As the opioid epidemic continues to plague the United States, Narcan and other treatments that administer naloxone have emerged as effective tools to quickly reverse overdoses and save lives.

Yet, a new study by researchers from New Mexico State University and North Dakota State University found significant gaps in naloxone distribution and usage among adults in the United States, adding further complications to the opioid crisis that in 2022 alone claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Americans.

The study, published in the American Journal on Addictions, was a collaboration between Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at NMSU, and Akshaya Bhagavathula, an associate professor at NDSU. Together, the two researchers analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics to understand adult Americans' knowledge of Narcan and their Narcan-carrying practices. The study group included 7,046 adults.

Their findings reveal that while 75% of the study group had heard of Narcan, only 53% knew that the overdose-reversing nasal spray is sold over the counter. The results also show that only 5.6% of adults in the group reported carrying Narcan, while nearly 60% said they didn't know how to administer the drug or know how to get it.

"This study highlights the gap between awareness and actual possession of naloxone, especially among at-risk groups," Bhagavathula said.

The study found that white individuals, females and those with higher education backgrounds were significantly more likely to be aware of Narcan or carry it. Individuals aged 18-59 years were more likely to carry Narcan, according to the study. By comparison, individuals with lower incomes or those from southern states had lower awareness of Narcan across all other groups. 

Moreover, only a third of the study participants knew they could get Narcan from a local health department, a doctor's office or a community harm reduction organization, and nearly 10% believed Narcan does not work.

"Despite successive U.S. governments declaring the national opioid crisis as a public health emergency, more than 100 Americans die of opioid overdose every day, and opioids remain a leading cause of death among those who are 18-45 years of age," Khubchandani said. "One strategy to effectively combat the opioid crisis and reduce deaths in communities is to ensure that Narcan is perceived as an essential safety measure and more people become aware of this option to save lives."

The study notes that more Narcan is being used today than in the past by police officers, emergency medical technicians and non-emergency first responders. But it emphasizes an urgent need for public health interventions to improve Narcan distribution and accessibility in underserved populations and in communities where death rates remain high from opioid overdose.

"The bare minimum we expect is that people who have family members or know someone with opioid addiction should carry Narcan all the time," Khubchandani said.

To read the full study, visit https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40131292/. 

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-study-finds-critical-gaps-in-narcan-awareness--possession-among-u.s.-adults/s/b86a2566-9fa8-4fcd-a3bb-6d98f4e42e03