U of A study reveals major impact of Arizona opioid safety law
U of A study reveals major impact of Arizona opioid safety law.
A state law designed to curb the opioid epidemic by increasing access to an overdose-reversal medication successfully changed prescribing habits across Arizona, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Arizona found that the 2018 mandate led to a pronounced increase in clinicians prescribing naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, alongside high-dose opioids.
The law took effect in April 2018 and required clinicians to prescribe naloxone to patients receiving more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents of opioids per day.
Researchers analyzed statewide data from the Arizona Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program from 2017 through 2022 to measure the impact.
The study found that during the first two months after the law took effect, naloxone coprescribing spiked by 331% for patients receiving 90 to 119 milligrams per day, and by 360% for those receiving at least 120 milligrams per day.
Pharmacists also increased their dispensing of the medication by at least 111% across all opioid-dose categories.
While naloxone became available over the counter nationwide in March 2023, researchers noted that prescriptions remain vital for patients who rely on insurance to cover the $30 to $40 cost.
The study could not determine if the prescribing spike led to fewer deaths, which researchers say will require further study.