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Given the extent to which drug overdose deaths have risen over in the USA, to over 63,000 in 2016 [1], we have to anticipate that these can potentially go much higher still. We need to target this from multiple angles; naloxone provision is one of the most cost-effective ways to address the problem and must be a key part if the solution, but we also surely need (a) more support for drug and alcohol services to help addicts manage their addiction, (b) more public education on the risks, (c) to be very careful regarding responsible prescribing, and (d) better social support to somehow prevent people falling through the cracks into addiction in the first place.
Re: Take-home message: improve naloxone supply
Given the extent to which drug overdose deaths have risen over in the USA, to over 63,000 in 2016 [1], we have to anticipate that these can potentially go much higher still. We need to target this from multiple angles; naloxone provision is one of the most cost-effective ways to address the problem and must be a key part if the solution, but we also surely need (a) more support for drug and alcohol services to help addicts manage their addiction, (b) more public education on the risks, (c) to be very careful regarding responsible prescribing, and (d) better social support to somehow prevent people falling through the cracks into addiction in the first place.
[1] Drug overdose deaths in th3 United States, 1999-2016 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db294.pdf
Competing interests: No competing interests