A pharmacist-led intervention of dispensing naloxone to a patient population at risk of opioid-related harm.

Background: Even though pharmacists are fully capable of dispensing naloxone under protocols, there are barriers perceived by pharmacists, such as determining which patients are at high-risk.

Objective(s): The study objectives were to 1) determine the impact of pharmacist-led identification of patients at a high-risk of opioid-related harm and pharmacist intervention by providing naloxone counseling; and 2) identify patient-reported barriers for receiving naloxone recommended by pharmacists under the Missouri Standing Protocol.

Methods: Pharmacists developed a standardized process in their workflow to identify patients at high-risk of opioid-related harm defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and attempted to call the patient prior to the patient's arrival to counsel the patient on naloxone.