HealthPartners, Park Nicollet pharmacies begin distributing medication to prevent opioid overdoses for high-risk patients

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – HealthPartners and Park Nicollet pharmacies have begun distributing naloxone to patients who have a prescription for opioid medication and are at higher risk of an overdose. These include patients who have three or more opioid prescriptions within the last six months and patients who are taking benzodiazepines (primarily used for anxiety) or medication for substance use disorder.

Until recently, only physicians and certain emergency medical personnel were authorized to administer naloxone. However, more than 40 states, including Minnesota, now have legislation for others to administer it.

An order by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2016 made the opioid-reversal medication available without a prescription. The order allows pharmacists to provide naloxone to people who are at risk or know of someone at risk of an opioid overdose. The Food and Drug Administration has approved injection or nasal delivery devices for naloxone that can be used by laypersons with little or no training.

Opioids suppress the body’s urge to breathe. It is important to give help to an overdosing person right away. Brain damage can occur within only a few minutes.

“This program makes this life-saving drug more available in our community,” said Lawrence King, Pharm.D., HealthPartners manager of pharmacy practice. “It’s important because it allows prompt action by friends and loved ones who are more likely to detect the early onset of an overdose.”

The program started in February at HealthPartners Central Minnesota pharmacy in St. Cloud. It has since been implemented at 16 HealthPartners and 11 Park Nicollet pharmacies. It is expected to benefit an estimated 4,000 patients. It is expected to be available at all outpatient pharmacies in HealthPartners system later this year.

According to the Society for Addiction Medicine, naloxone rescue kits have prevented more than 26,000 opioid overdoses and does not increase opioid use.