Assessing prescription opioid overdose risk (POOR) via a quality improvement process led by Fife Pharmacy and scoping the feasibility of a specific overdose prevention intervention (distribution of and training in administration of intrasnasal take home naloxone) delivered by Community Pharmacists in NHS Fife.

The study explored the merits and challenges of an intervention to reduce drug-related deaths among those prescribed strong opioids for chronic-non cancer pain (CNCP). These individuals are at risk of prescription opioid overdose (POOR). The study involved partnerships with NHS Fife, the University of St Andrews and Glasgow Caledonian University, and was funded by an NHS Fife Research and Development bursary. Naloxone is a short-acting opioid receptor antagonist which reverses the potentially fatal effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone is not currently widely distributed within the CNCP population. The team considered that a bespoke intervention could be developed for this group, to reduce incidences of overdose. It would combine information and education, with the naloxone product and would be delivered by community pharmacists. A paper has been published: https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1186/s12889-021-11162-4?sharing_token=8e5OsOAuioPEaROkn3ER-W_BpE1tBhCbnbw3BuzI2ROF7SSH6wldN9kHPgTtVM3KAsakN-rNOdeEmw4XrDDTWS6-m3pIqGxmP2bl5TCFPUynzZTzZDUws7pmsI07p1YppGbzfJWVsRJa6EtbuSec2j8oklwKmHMAt3Yl04BHbAk%3D