Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2013
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Victoria Colliver

HEROIN ANTIDOTE SAID TO SAVE LIVES

Giving heroin users an overdose antidote called naloxone, or Narcan,
saves both lives and money, according to a study co-authored by a
researcher at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate the impact of
distributing naloxone, an injection or nasal spray that blocks the
action of the opioid on nerve and brain cells, and triggers an
instantaneous withdrawal.

Based on the model, researchers estimated that giving just 200,000
heroin users naloxone kits would prevent 9,000 overdoses over their
lifetimes, or one life saved for every 164 naloxone kits distributed.
Using more optimistic projections, the researchers estimated that as
many as 43,000 deaths could be prevented, or one life for every 36
kits.

Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury death in the United
States, with opioids, such as heroin and oxycodone, accounting for 80
percent of those deaths. Naloxone distribution costs about $400 for
every quality-adjusted year of life gained, a measure that calculates
the cost of a health intervention by including both the quantity and
quality of life.

Naloxone has saved an estimated 500 lives in San Francisco since 2003,
when the city became the first in California to publicly fund the
drug's distribution to people most likely to be in the presence of
someone who is overdosing. The program costs about $73,000 a year for
the drug kits, training and personnel expenses and overhead.

The study was published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D