Addressing the opioid crisis is the goal of International Overdose Awareness Day, an initiative by Australian-based Penington Institute that aims to recognize the lives lost to overdose and encourage education and advocacy around opioid overdose prevention. This year’s theme, “Together we can,” highlights “the strength of coming together and standing in support of those connected to the tragedy of overdose,” according to the awareness day’s website.

In a recent Perspectives article, Jessica Johnson, special investigations unit (SIU) clinical consultant at Prime Therapeutics/Magellan Rx Management (Prime/Magellan Rx), shared insights on confronting the opioid crisis and ways to prevent overdose.

Courtesy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Between 2017 and 2021, the number of opioid overdose deaths increased from 47,600 to 80,411— an almost 70% increase in four years.¹

Prime Therapeutics/Magellan Rx Management (Prime/Magellan Rx) is committed to confronting the opioid crisis. Opioids are a class of drugs that derive from or are similar to substances found in opium poppy plants and are generally prescribed for pain relief. They include medications such as morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl.

Our experts addressed the opioid crisis earlier this year in a Beyond the Script livestream episode, sharing how tools such as prior authorization can be a last line of defense to stop potentially dangerous medications like opioids from falling into the wrong hands.

There are ways that you can help prevent an opioid overdose, and our new educational report shares how to recognize if someone has overdosed on opioids and what you can do to help.

One of the best ways to prevent opioid overdose is by using a type of injectable or nasal-spray medication called naloxone (Narcan^®), which — when administered — may quickly reverse an opioid overdose. In nearly 40% of overdose deaths, someone else was present.²

Last year, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved naloxone nasal sprays for over-the-counter use, making the medication available for purchase at pharmacies throughout the country. Naloxone is also sometimes available from community distribution and harm-reduction groups, and some health plans offer coverage for prescription naloxone. However, the overall dispensing rate for naloxone remains low.³

Having access to naloxone has been linked to between 27% and 46% fewer overdose deaths.⁴ If you suspect someone has overdosed but you aren’t sure, administering naloxone won’t do any harm — and, in fact, it may help save their life. Learn more about the symptoms of an opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone at cdc.gov/stop-overdose.

Read more about how naloxone saves lives

References 

1. Drug overdose death rates | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024, May 30). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
2. Lifesaving naloxone. (2024, April 2). Stop Overdose. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/naloxone.html#:~:text=In%20over%2040%25%20of%20overdose,fatal%20overdose%20and%20save%20lives
3. Naloxone dispensing rate maps. (2024, May 2). Overdose Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/naloxone-dispensing-rate-maps.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/rxrate-maps/naloxone.html
4. Is naloxone accessible? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, April 13). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/naloxone-accessible#:~:text=Effects%20of%20Naloxone%20Distribution,communities%20where%20OEND%20was%20implemented