Clinicians should strongly consider prescribing or co-prescribing naloxone to certain patients at risk for opioid overdose, and educating them about its use, according to guidance released today by the Department of Health and Human Services. For example, the recommendation includes patients prescribed opioids who are receiving them at a dosage of 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day or greater; have respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or obstructive sleep apnea; have been prescribed benzodiazepines; or have a substance use disorder, excessive alcohol use or mental health disorder. “This new guidance reflects our commitment to ensuring those who need overdose-reversing drugs have them and provides practical steps that clinicians, patients, and the public can take to reduce the risk of an overdose,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Related News Articles

Headline
President Biden March 13 announced the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, a national call to action for the public and private sectors to…
Headline
Released during National Eating Disorder Awareness week, the latest AHA People Matter, Words Matter poster encourages compassionate and caring language when…
Headline
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Feb. 8 issued a final rule implementing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act…
Headline
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Jan. 31 updated its Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit, which includes basic information on…
Headline
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Jan. 31 issued a final rule that updates certain regulations for Opioid Treatment Programs and…
Headline
The House Dec. 12 voted 386-37 to pass AHA-supported legislation (H.R. 4531) that would reauthorize key SUPPORT Act programs for patients with substance use…