The opioid crisis continues to affect communities across the United States, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of individuals each year. One potential solution is the distribution of naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. However, effectively distributing naloxone to those who need it most can be challenging.
In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the Brown University School of Public health and collaborating institutions evaluated the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of different strategies for distributing naloxone in Rhode Island. The team developed a model to simulate the distribution of 10,000 additional naloxone kits issued by the state in 2021 through partnerships with community-based organizations.
“It is crucial for us to understand not just how many more naloxone kits can be obtained, but who needs them and where they are needed,” said lead author Xiao Zang, a postdoctoral fellow in epidemiology at Brown during the study and current assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota. “This research provides an opportunity to examine how naloxone can be distributed more efficiently, effectively, and equitably across all regions.”
The study, “Comparing Projected Fatal Overdose Outcomes and Costs of Strategies to Expand Community-Based Distribution of Naloxone in Rhode Island,” compared two primary methods of distributing naloxone in Rhode Island: a supply-based approach, which relies on existing programs, infrastructure and distribution patterns, and the demand-based approach, which more precisely targets naloxone to areas with high concentrations of people who inject or use illicit drugs.
