Study: Ohio law change leads to dramatic increase in naloxone access

The number of prescriptions to a life-saving overdose reversal medication grew in Ohio grew by 2,328% following a state law change in 2015 (Source: “Ohio law dramatically increases access to overdose reversal meds,” Dayton Daily News, Feb. 4, 2020).

The Ohio law was changed to help reduce the number of overdoses in the state by allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without patients first going to a doctor for a prescription. After the change, University of Cincinnati researchers found dramatically higher naloxone dispensing at Ohio pharmacies.

“Our study shows that this change in the Ohio law allowed pharmacists to have more opportunity to participate in the management of patients addicted to opioids,” study’s lead faculty researcher Pam Heaton, a professor of pharmacy practice at UC’s Winkle College, said in a statement.

In order to provide policymakers and other stakeholders with the information needed to take stock of Ohio's policy response to addiction, HPIO released a policy scorecard on overdose reversal and other forms of harm reduction. The scorecard is part of HPIO’s Addiction Evidence Project.