The Arkansas State Police recently distributed to each trooper two doses of Narcan that can be used as any trooper encounters a victim of an opioid overdose. Now, the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and the Arkansas Pharmacists Association have developed a Naloxone protocol that can be used much like the protocols for administering immunizations with any prescriptions initialized being in the name of the prescriber on the protocol.
Whenever an individual presents at the pharmacy and is individually at risk for an opioid related overdose due to current prescription therapy or other drug use, the pharmacist may initiate a prescription for that individual and bill the patient’s insurance if available for the Naloxone being provided. If insurance is not available in this instance then it would be a cash pay (credit) transaction.
Whenever an individual presents at the pharmacy who is a family member, friend, or other person who is in a position to assist an individual with an increased risk of an opioid overdose (which could include Law Enforcement, First Responders, teachers, school nurses…), the pharmacist may initiate a prescription for that individual to be used for anyone they come in contact with that is experiencing an opioid overdose. This would likely be a cash transaction unless there is other guidance from an insurance provider allowing for billing in this scenario.
It is important to read not only the clarifying language in the act but also the related statewide Naloxone Protocol and counsel patients on how these products are used. It is also important to note that the Naloxone protocol can serve as a fact sheet to be provided to patients as required in the law and finally, if for an individual person you must ask if they have a primary care physician and notify them of the purchase of Naloxone when using this protocol. If they have a primary care physician and a secondary provider that is writing for opioids it would be useful to notify them as well.
Finally, we would suggest looking at the Naloxone PowerPoint that the Board of Pharmacy and State Drug Director’s office has been using as an educational tool as well as looking at options for smartphone apps such as OpiRescue and NARCAN Now that can walk patients through the process of using Naloxone for a potential opioid overdose. The most important point you can make to each person counseled on Naloxone use is to emphasize that this is a temporary fix that requires further medical attention due to the fact that Naloxone will wear off before the opioids on board and a patient can go back into overdose as the Naloxone wears off. Always seek further medical treatment to keep the patient stabilized. Also know that there is an immunity protection for individuals who are both supplying as well as administering Naloxone to a person suspected to be in an opioid overdose situation.
Click here to download a copy of the Naloxone Protocol.
Click here to download a copy of Act 284 authorizing pharmacists to initiate therapy and administer and/or dispense Naloxone.
Click here to download a copy of the Naloxone PowerPoint (10 MB) or here for a pdf version of the presentation.
Click here to see Governor Hutchinson’s press conference announcing the Naloxone protocol initiative.