Citation

Bazazi AR, Zaller ND, Fu JJ, Rich JD. J. Health Care Poor Underserved 2010; 21(4): 1108-1113.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Johns Hopkins University Press)

DOI

10.1353/hpu.2010.0935

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Abstract:Opiate overdose persists as a major public health problem, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality among opiate users globally. Opiate overdose can be reversed by the timely administration of naloxone. Programs that distribute naloxone to opiate users and their acquaintances have been successfully implemented in a number of cities around the world and have shown that non-medical personnel are able to administer naloxone to reverse opiate overdoses and save lives. Objections to distributing naloxone to non-medical personnel persist despite a lack of scientific evidence. Here we respond to some common objections to naloxone distribution and their implications.