Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Abstract Background The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019 and 2022. A pharmacist-led opioid overdose education and nalo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01161-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571850295607296 |
|---|---|
| author | Alexis E. Horace Ojochogwu Atawodi-Alhassan |
| author_facet | Alexis E. Horace Ojochogwu Atawodi-Alhassan |
| author_sort | Alexis E. Horace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019 and 2022. A pharmacist-led opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program was developed at a SSP in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research is to characterize the clients who participated in the OEND and to assess their learned knowledge and behaviors over time. Methods A pharmacist led OEND program was created in April 2020 at a syringe service program (SSP) in New Orleans, Louisiana. OEND was provided by a licensed pharmacist and student pharmacists. OEND coincided with the SSPs activities one time a week. Participants first received harm reduction supplies through the SSP and then had the option of receiving OEND. Patients' demographic information was collected. Participants who said they received opioid overdose education from our OEND program were verbally given a knowledge and behavior assessment. Participants knowledge and behaviors were scored using a rubric. Results A total of 32 OEND sessions were held from July 2020 through February 2023 resulting in 1453 overall participant interactions. Repeat participants completed 269 visits and averaged 2.3 visits in three years. The average age of participants who received OEND was 40 years old. Additionally, participants who accessed OEND were primarily white (67.77%, n = 811/1300) and mostly male (59.15%, n = 769/1300). Among the participants who visited the OEND station more than once, 160 responses were collected for how helpful the previous education session had been. Of these responses, 75% (= 120/160) were “Very helpful”. Participants who repeated the program retained knowledge and showed a positive change in their behaviors regarding opioid overdose reversal. Conclusions OEND programs established at SSPs play an important role in providing education to PWUD. Participants knowledge sustained over time; however, refresher education sessions may be valuable to ensure participants stay accurately informed. Participants find OEND helpful. As naloxone continues to become increasingly available, OEND is necessary in preventing opioid overdose deaths. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3da4f9ddd252487a97747c651193200e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-3da4f9ddd252487a97747c651193200e2025-02-02T12:14:39ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172025-02-012211810.1186/s12954-025-01161-8Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemicAlexis E. Horace0Ojochogwu Atawodi-Alhassan1University of Louisiana at Monroe College of PharmacyUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe College of PharmacyAbstract Background The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019 and 2022. A pharmacist-led opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program was developed at a SSP in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research is to characterize the clients who participated in the OEND and to assess their learned knowledge and behaviors over time. Methods A pharmacist led OEND program was created in April 2020 at a syringe service program (SSP) in New Orleans, Louisiana. OEND was provided by a licensed pharmacist and student pharmacists. OEND coincided with the SSPs activities one time a week. Participants first received harm reduction supplies through the SSP and then had the option of receiving OEND. Patients' demographic information was collected. Participants who said they received opioid overdose education from our OEND program were verbally given a knowledge and behavior assessment. Participants knowledge and behaviors were scored using a rubric. Results A total of 32 OEND sessions were held from July 2020 through February 2023 resulting in 1453 overall participant interactions. Repeat participants completed 269 visits and averaged 2.3 visits in three years. The average age of participants who received OEND was 40 years old. Additionally, participants who accessed OEND were primarily white (67.77%, n = 811/1300) and mostly male (59.15%, n = 769/1300). Among the participants who visited the OEND station more than once, 160 responses were collected for how helpful the previous education session had been. Of these responses, 75% (= 120/160) were “Very helpful”. Participants who repeated the program retained knowledge and showed a positive change in their behaviors regarding opioid overdose reversal. Conclusions OEND programs established at SSPs play an important role in providing education to PWUD. Participants knowledge sustained over time; however, refresher education sessions may be valuable to ensure participants stay accurately informed. Participants find OEND helpful. As naloxone continues to become increasingly available, OEND is necessary in preventing opioid overdose deaths.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01161-8Harm reductionNaloxoneOpioid overdose educationNaloxone distributionCOVID19Pharmacist |
| spellingShingle | Alexis E. Horace Ojochogwu Atawodi-Alhassan Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic Harm Reduction Journal Harm reduction Naloxone Opioid overdose education Naloxone distribution COVID19 Pharmacist |
| title | Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| title_full | Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| title_short | Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| title_sort | assessment of knowledge and behaviors of an opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic |
| topic | Harm reduction Naloxone Opioid overdose education Naloxone distribution COVID19 Pharmacist |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01161-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexisehorace assessmentofknowledgeandbehaviorsofanopioidoverdoseeducationandnaloxonedistributionprogramduringthecoronavirusdisease2019pandemic AT ojochogwuatawodialhassan assessmentofknowledgeandbehaviorsofanopioidoverdoseeducationandnaloxonedistributionprogramduringthecoronavirusdisease2019pandemic |