Impacts of State Laws Mandating Co-Prescribing Naloxone with Opioids on Naloxone Prescription Dispensing in the U.S.
September 29, 2024

This study examined how naloxone codispensing changed from 2016 to 2021 in response to state mandates aimed at reducing overdose risk among patients prescribed opioids. Using national data and interrupted time series analysis, the researchers found that mandates led to immediate increases in naloxone codispensing in 8 of 10 states. However, in 5 of those states, rates declined over time. The findings suggest that while mandates can boost naloxone access, they may not be sufficient for sustained impact, highlighting the need for complementary strategies.