Investigating the complexity of naloxone distribution: Which policies matter for pharmacies and potential recipients

Rosanna Smart, David Powell, Rosalie Pacula, Evan Peet, Rahi Abouk and Corey S. Davis

Journal of Health Economics, 2024, vol. 97, issue C

Abstract: Despite efforts to expand naloxone access, opioid-related overdoses remain a significant contributor to mortality. We study state efforts to expand naloxone distribution through pharmacies by reducing the non-monetary costs to prescribers, dispensers, and/or potential recipients of naloxone. We find that laws that only address liability costs have small and insignificant effects on the volume of naloxone dispensed through pharmacies. In contrast, we estimate large effects of laws removing the need for patients to obtain prescriptions from traditional prescribers (e.g., primary care physicians): laws authorizing non-patient-specific prescription distribution and laws granting pharmacists prescriptive authority. We test whether areas designated as primary care shortage areas—where it would be costlier to obtain a prescription—were disproportionately impacted. Shortage areas experienced sharper growth in pharmacy naloxone dispensing in states adopting prescriptive authority policies. These gains were primarily due to those facing low out-of-pocket costs, suggesting that price barriers also must be addressed to increase naloxone purchases.

Keywords: Opioid crisis; Naloxone; Pharmacy distribution; Prescriptive authority; Harm reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H75 I18 K32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Investigating the Complexity of Naloxone Distribution: Which Policies Matter for Pharmacies and Potential Recipients (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:97:y:2024:i:c:s0167629624000626

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102917

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