A recent study on Naloxone Knowledge, Carrying, Purchase and Use  from the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that 95 percent of individuals  were at risk for an overdose knew what naloxone does how to obtain it. However, less than 50 percent of all those surveyed had heard of naloxone and were able to correctly identify its use.

This discrepancy clearly demonstrates the need for a continued effort to raise greater awareness about the benefits of drugs that reverse an opioid overdose. The authors of the study suggest that more effort be given to increase knowledge “among individuals who are not themselves high-risk but know people who are may be a useful avenue for further improving access and reducing the risk of opioid overdose death.”

To learn more about the opioid epidemic, please register for PDFNJ’s next Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series webinar.