Reviewing state-mandated training requirements for naloxone-dispensing pharmacists.

BACKGROUND: Expanding access to naloxone is crucial for mitigating the public health epidemic of opioid overdose deaths in America. Pharmacists now have greater independent authority to dispense naloxone to the public due to a wave of enhanced pharmacy naloxone access laws. It is unknown to what extent pharmacists are required to receive specialized training to serve in this capacity.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to review naloxone training mandates from states with enhanced pharmacy naloxone access laws.

METHODS: Structured internet searches were completed using publicly available legislative, regulatory, and administrative records to identify the type of enhanced pharmacy naloxone access law and the presence and characteristics of a pharmacist naloxone training mandate in each state.

RESULTS: As of November 22, 2017, all 50 states have implemented an enhanced pharmacy naloxone access law. Only 19 states mandated targeted naloxone education before pharmacists engaged in independent naloxone dispensing/prescribing activities.

CONCLUSIONS: A lack of standardized naloxone training requirements for naloxone-dispensing pharmacists may affect the rate of adoption of enhanced pharmacy naloxone dispensing practices at community pharmacies and suboptimal education of patients at risk of opioid overdose. Ensuring pharmacists' preparedness to serve as naloxone providers is necessary to meaningfully prevent opioid overdose deaths in their communities.