Implementation of an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program in a Health Department

Abstract

Opioid overdose is pandemic in the United States. North Carolinians are not exempt from hazardous health behavior. Opioid overdose prevention programs are one method of providing naloxone to laypersons in the community. Public health departments in North Carolina are able to dispense naloxone to members of the community through a state-wide standing order. The purpose of this project was to implement a naloxone dispensing program by using the state standing orders for naloxone dispensing in a health department located in central North Carolina. A rural health department in North Carolina had standing orders in place to dispense naloxone, but did not have the naloxone available to dispense and was not screening for opioid use. Within the rural health department, standing orders for dispensing naloxone were implemented when high risk clients, friends and family were identified. Clients identified at risk for witnessing an overdose were instructed in indication and administration of naloxone. Over nine weeks, every client seen at the clinic was screened for opioid use or knowledge of opioid user(s). If the screen was positive, the client was offered naloxone training and take-home naloxone. The number of completed screening forms was compared to the number of clients seen in the clinic. Of the 307 clients that were screened over a nine week period, 4.2% (13) of clients received a naloxone kit.