Intranasal Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose in

the Pre-hospital Setting

Daliah Heller, PhD, MPHAssistant Commissioner

Bureau of Alcohol & Drug Use Prevention, Care & Treatment

The context of drug overdose: An opportunity for prevention

• Overdoses are rarely instantaneous – Death usually happens over one to three hours

• Recovery from opioid overdose treated with naloxone is nearly universal if administered correctly– Minimal risk of adverse effects– Naloxone lacks abuse potential

• More than 50% of overdoses are witnessed*– Educate ‘civilians’ and prescribe naloxone to administer when

witnessing an overdose

*Source: Darke & Hall, 2003

Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs in NYS law

Effective April 1, 2006 in New York State, registered programs can provide overdose reversal training and prescribe naloxone to ‘civilians.’

– Programs submit a brief application to NYS DOH AIDS Institute

– Programs maintain confidential training logs of ‘trained overdose responders’

– Programs submit information on reported overdose reversals (responder remains anonymous)

Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs

• Educate people to respond to overdose– Train people individually or in groups

• Prescribe and dispense naloxone to ‘trained overdose responders’– Injectable or intranasal naloxone formulation is

offered

• Target people who use drugs, people in their social networks, family members and friends, as well as staff of shelters, housing programs, drug treatment programs, and other locations where overdoses might occur

A typical overdoseprevention and reversal training…

• Describes risks for opioid overdose

• Describes symptoms of an opioid overdose

• Teaches how to respond to an opioid overdose (call 911 is the first response!)

• Prescribes naloxone to the ‘trained responder’

• Can take 10 minutes or up to one hour

• Provided to individuals or groups

Trained overdose responders are offered intranasal or intramuscular naloxone

Intranasal naloxone (IN): 2mg/2mL

Intranasal naloxone

Intramuscular naloxone

Intramuscular naloxone (IM): 0.4mg/1mL

The Overdose Rescue Kit also includes

– Rescue breathing mask

– Latex gloves

– Alcohol pad

As of October 1, 2009

• 50 registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs in New York State– 44 registered programs in New York City

• Programs include:– Homeless shelters and outreach programs– Syringe exchange / harm reduction programs– HIV/AIDS services– Drug treatment programs– NYC DOHMH

Initial program success in NYC

• > 4,000 kits (2x naloxone doses) distributed

• > 300 reversals reported by trained overdose responders