Reducing opioid overdose by changing law and policy

Drug overdose has recently surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental injury death in the United States. The epidemic is largely driven by prescription opioids, which kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. These deaths – over 16,000 per year – are almost entirely preventable by the timely administration of naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Yet, this life-saving drug is often not available when and where it is needed. Law is a primary driver of this lack of access. Because opioid overdose often occurs when the victim is with friends or family members, those people may be the best situated to act to save his or her life by administering naloxone. Unfortunately, existing law and regulation makes it difficult for such persons to access the drug. Further, overdose bystanders often fail to call 911 for fear of arrest or other negative legal action. A number of states have recently acknowledged and attempted to address this problem by modifying state law to encourage the prescription and use of naloxone and the summoning of emergency responders. Similarly, public health and other agencies have modified policy to increase access to the drug. This presentation will identify and discuss these laws and policies, and provide emerging evidence as to their effectiveness. Common themes will be identified, and evidence-based suggestions for further legal amendments to reduce overdose deaths will be discussed.