College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Releases Practical Guidelines on Naloxone Access for Pharmacists

PRESS RELEASE

The College of Psychiatric & Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) and members of its Substance Abuse Task Force are pleased to announce the release of a guideline document intended to educate pharmacists on naloxone use and administration with the goal of providing increased patient access to this life-saving medication for opioid overdose. NALOXONE ACCESS: A Practical Guideline for Pharmacists, provides information on the following:

• Patient Selection
• How Naloxone is Supplied
• Prescribing and Dispensing
• Acquisition and Reimbursement
• Storage
• Supporting Laws and Regulations
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Patient Information Sheets for both Intranasal and Intramuscular Administration of Naloxone

Task Force Chair Bethany DiPaula, PharmD, BCPP, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, noted that the Naloxone Access guide was intended to fill a gap in information available to pharmacists. “Prevention and proper treatment of opioid overdose is a national public health priority. Pharmacists can play an important role by making naloxone, a life-saving antidote, available to the community. However, this medication has unique administration, legal, and procurement issues. This guide should make it easier for pharmacists by providing necessary naloxone dispensing and educational information that cannot easily be found in any other single source.”

CPNP’s Incoming President Raymond Love, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, Professor at the University of Maryland, pointed to the role that pharmacists can and should play in reducing the opioid overdose epidemic. “It seems that every day brings a new headline about opioid abuse and overdose. Yet pharmacists are often left out of this discussion when they can play a key role in improving access to the life-saving drug naloxone.”

The NALOXONE ACCESS: A Practical Guideline for Pharmacists, will be a living document that is updated and maintained on the CPNP website as a freely available source of information.