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After years of increasing opioid overdose deaths, the US witnessed a notable shift in 2023 as fatalities decreased by 3%, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new study suggests that a key factor in this decline could be the rising administration of naloxone by non-medical personnel—ordinary bystanders with minimal medical training.

Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is a drug that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Over the past few years, efforts have intensified to make this life-saving medication more accessible to the public. The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, reveals that from June 2020 to June 2022, emergency medical services (EMS) across the US administered naloxone to 744,078 patients. While EMS-documented naloxone administration rates dropped by 6.1% during this period, the percentage of those receiving naloxone from a layperson before EMS arrival surged by 43.5%.

"The fact that we saw an increase of 43.5% shows that public health efforts are making an impact," said Chris Gage, the study's lead author and an EMS Research Fellow with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Naloxone works by blocking the effects of opioids and can restore normal breathing within minutes of administration. While administering the nasal spray version of naloxone is straightforward, experts emphasize the importance of calling 911 during an overdose, as further medical attention may be required.

The latest CDC data reinforces a recent pattern of reducing fatal overdoses in the US, reflecting a drop of up to 10% over the last year. The study's findings highlight the growing role of naloxone in public health strategies, which aim to empower bystanders to act promptly in overdose situations.

Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, underscored the significance of making naloxone accessible to drug users and those around them for effective overdose intervention. Although only 3.4% of the naloxone administrations documented in the study were conducted by laypeople, Gage hopes the number will rise. The availability of over-the-counter naloxone since September 2023, priced at around $45 for a two-dose carton, could further enhance access.

"Getting naloxone into the hands of people who use drugs and their immediate circles can save lives," Dasgupta said, though he also pointed out that economic barriers still hinder access. He highlighted that despite valuation changes, states are still paying more for naloxone than necessary.

Furthermore, Dasgupta emphasized the importance of educating opioid users about potential contaminants in their drugs, which could influence their decisions about drug use. "There is a rapidly growing paradigm of drug-checking that enables immediate analysis of drug samples," he noted.

Gage believes that the study's insights can guide future policies and strategies aimed at mitigating the opioid crisis. "With more laypeople administering naloxone, the hope is that fewer lives will be lost to opioid overdoses," he concluded.