Hawraa Sameer Sajwani1,2,3,4,5, Anna V Williams6. 1. Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. hawraa@live.com. 2. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. hawraa@live.com. 3. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US. hawraa@live.com. 4. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, US. hawraa@live.com. 5. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. hawraa@live.com. 6. Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose epidemic is hitting record highs worldwide, accounting for 76% of mortality related to substance use. Take-home naloxone (THN) strategies are being implemented in many developed countries that suffer from high opioid overdose death rates. They aim to provide overdose identification and naloxone administration training, along with THN delivery to opioid users and others likely to witness an overdose incident such as family members and peers. However, little is known about such measures in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where opioid use and opioid-related deaths are reportedly high. This systematic literature review aims to examine the distribution of THN in LMIC, review studies identifying barriers to the implementation of THN programs worldwide, and assess their applicability to LMIC. METHODS: The literature was searched and analyzed for eligible studies with quality assessment. RESULTS: Two studies were found from LMIC on THN programs with promising results, and 13 studies were found on the barriers identified in implementing THN programs worldwide. The main barriers to THN strategies were the lack of training of healthcare providers, lack of privileges, time constraints, cost, legislative/policy restrictions, stigma, fear of litigation, and some misperceptions around THN. CONCLUSIONS: The barriers outlined in this paper are probably applicable to LMIC, but more difficult to overcome considering the differences in their response to opioid overdose, their cultural attitudes and norms, the high cost, the waivers required, the legislative differences and the severe penalties for drug-related offenses in some of these countries. The solutions suggested to counter-act these obstacles can also be more difficult to achieve in LMIC. Further research is required in this area with larger sample sizes to provide a better understanding of the obstacles to the implementation, feasibility, accessibility, and utilization of THN programs in LMIC.
BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose epidemic is hitting record highs worldwide, accounting for 76% of mortality related to substance use. Take-home naloxone (THN) strategies are being implemented in many developed countries that suffer from high opioid overdose death rates. They aim to provide overdose identification and naloxone administration training, along with THN delivery to opioid users and others likely to witness an overdose incident such as family members and peers. However, little is known about such measures in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where opioid use and opioid-related deaths are reportedly high. This systematic literature review aims to examine the distribution of THN in LMIC, review studies identifying barriers to the implementation of THN programs worldwide, and assess their applicability to LMIC. METHODS: The literature was searched and analyzed for eligible studies with quality assessment. RESULTS: Two studies were found from LMIC on THN programs with promising results, and 13 studies were found on the barriers identified in implementing THN programs worldwide. The main barriers to THN strategies were the lack of training of healthcare providers, lack of privileges, time constraints, cost, legislative/policy restrictions, stigma, fear of litigation, and some misperceptions around THN. CONCLUSIONS: The barriers outlined in this paper are probably applicable to LMIC, but more difficult to overcome considering the differences in their response to opioid overdose, their cultural attitudes and norms, the high cost, the waivers required, the legislative differences and the severe penalties for drug-related offenses in some of these countries. The solutions suggested to counter-act these obstacles can also be more difficult to achieve in LMIC. Further research is required in this area with larger sample sizes to provide a better understanding of the obstacles to the implementation, feasibility, accessibility, and utilization of THN programs in LMIC.
Authors: Elizabeth A Samuels; Kristin Dwyer; Michael J Mello; Janette Baird; Adam R Kellogg; Edward Bernstein Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2016-03-22 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: Maxim Kan; Julia A Gall; Alisher Latypov; Robert Gray; Marat Bakpayev; Djamila Alisheva; Khursheda Rakhmatova; Aigul S Sadieva Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2014-01-23
Authors: Mari-Lynn Drainoni; Elisa A Koppelman; James A Feldman; Alexander Y Walley; Patricia M Mitchell; Jacqueline Ellison; Edward Bernstein Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2016-10-18