34th AM (2023) - Poster Session-Impact of Naloxone

Impact of Naloxone

Pdf Summary

A study conducted at Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Psychiatry Department aimed to expand naloxone distribution in a psychiatric hospital setting to prevent opioid overdoses. The study included 188 patients who were identified as being at risk of opioid overdose based on self-reported opioid or stimulant use or positive urine drug screening. After receiving education on naloxone use and opioid overdose recognition, the patients were offered take-home naloxone kits. The study found that the majority of patients accepted the kits, indicating the effectiveness of the program.<br /><br />The findings of the study revealed that the average age of the patients was 41, with a range of 17-79 years old. The sample consisted of approximately 44% White, 32.4% Black, 0.5% Asian, and 23% Other or Unknown individuals, with 18% identifying as Hispanic. Seventy-three percent of the sample identified as male.<br /><br />In terms of substance use, the study found that 28% of the patients reported opioid use, 44% reported stimulant use, 12% reported other non-prescribed pills, and 36% denied any illicit substance use. Almost half of the patients had witnessed an opioid overdose, and a smaller proportion had overdosed themselves. However, fewer than half of the patients had ever received a naloxone kit before participating in the study.<br /><br />After training, the participants reported feeling "very confident" in their ability to recognize an opioid overdose and use intranasal naloxone. Over 72% of the participants who denied opioid use on self-report were actually at elevated risk of opioid overdose based on other risk factors, such as using drugs at risk of contamination with synthetic opioids.<br /><br />The study highlights the effectiveness of expanding naloxone distribution in a psychiatric hospital setting to prevent opioid overdoses. It suggests that programs should consider offering naloxone kits to a broader population, including those who use drugs at risk of contamination with synthetic opioids. The study also emphasizes the importance of providing opioid overdose education to all patients in inpatient psychiatric units.

Keywords

Mount Sinai Beth Israel

naloxone distribution

psychiatric hospital

opioid overdoses

education on naloxone

take-home naloxone kits

substance use

opioid use

stimulant use

synthetic opioids

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