Evaluating the Use of Parenteral Naloxone in the Emergency Department of a Community Hospital

Background:Thousands of patients die every year from opioid overdose. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication FDA approved for opioid overdose reversal. Many patients may present to the emergency department (ED) and require naloxone administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate parenteral naloxone usage in the ED. It assessed parenteral naloxone indication of use and the patient population requiring its administration in order to support the need of a take home naloxone distribution program. Methods: This study was a retrospective, randomized, single center, chart review that took place at a community hospital ED. A computerized report was generated to identify all patients 18 years of age or older who were administered naloxone in the ED from June 2020 to June 2021. The charts of 100 patients randomly selected from the generated report were reviewed to collect the following information: gender, age, indication for use, dosing, drug being reversed, risk factors for overdose, ED revisits within 1 year. Results: Out of the 100 patients randomly reviewed, 55 (55%) patients were administered parenteral naloxone for overdose indication. Eighteen (32%) of overdose patients revisited the hospital within 1 year for overdose. Thirty-six (65%) of patients administered naloxone for overdose had history of substance abuse with 45 (82%) being under the age of 65 years. Conclusion: These results support the need for a take home naloxone distribution program to be implemented for patients at risk for opioid overdose or individuals at risk of witnessing a drug overdose.