Optimizing the Distribution of Pharmacy-Dispensed Naloxone Using Spatial Mapping Techniques in Rural Areas. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banerjee, Somalee
• Is Part Of: Journal of drug issues. Volume 50:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 604
• Page End: 612
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: naloxone -- mapping -- pharmacy -- geospatial -- rural; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Drug and Narcotic Control -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; Toxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.29305
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042620945673
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0426

Abstract

With the worsening opioid epidemic, recent changes allow pharmacies to sell naloxone through standing orders to reverse opioid overdoses. This study assesses direct dispensed naloxone availability through pharmacy chains in California in 2016, and utilizes spatial analysis techniques to suggest optimal stocking of naloxone. Rural counties were less likely to have a pharmacy selling naloxone even though overdose death rates were higher in rural counties (odds ratio [OR] = 0.225; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.059, 0.854]). Pharmacies closest to the center of the population in these rural counties were identified as ideal stocking locations. Rural counties with high overdose death rates have the lowest rates of naloxone, but spatial analysis can determine pre-existing chain pharmacies that can stock naloxone.