Facilitators and Barriers to Naloxone Kit Use Among Opioid-Dependent Patients Enrolled in Medication Assisted Therapy Clinics in North Carolina.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

BACKGROUND Naloxone-an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of opioids-is increasingly being distributed in non-medical settings. We sought to identify the facilitators of, and barriers to, opioid users using naloxone kits in North Carolina.METHODS In 2015, we administered a 15-item survey to a convenience sample of 100 treatment seekers at 4 methadone/buprenorphine Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) clinics in North Carolina.RESULTS Seventy-four percent of participants reported having ever gotten a naloxone kit; this percentage was higher for females (81%) than males (63%) (P = .06). The primary reason given for not having a kit was not knowing where to get one. Only 6% had heard of kits from the media and only 5% received one from a medical provider. Among kit recipients, 56% of both females and males reported mostly or sometimes carrying the kit, with additional participants reporting always. Reasons for not carrying a kit were no longer being around drugs, forgetting it, and the kit being too large. Men discussed the difficulties of carrying the naloxone kits, which are currently too large to fit in a pocket. Ninety-four percent of naloxone users reported intending to call emergency services in case of an overdose emergency.LIMITATIONS Study limitations included a small sample, participants limited to MAT clinics, and a predominantly white sample.CONCLUSIONS MAT treatment seekers reported a willingness to carry and use naloxone kits. Education, outreach, media, and medical providers need to promote naloxone kits. A smaller kit may increase the likelihood of men carrying one.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Khatiwoda, P; Proeschold-Bell, RJ; Meade, CS; Park, LP; Proescholdbell, S

Published Date

  • 2018

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 79 / 3

Start / End Page

  • 149 - 155

PubMed ID

  • 29735615

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0029-2559

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.18043/ncm.79.3.149

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States