Background: There were approximately 46,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2017. It is known that opioid overdose risk is increased in patients with a diagnosis of substance use disorder, prior opioid overdose, and high suspicion of risk as assessed by clinical teams. The Risk Index for Overdose or Serious Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (RIOSORD) is a validated [...]

Background: While prescription opioids have a role in treating certain pain conditions, their injudicious use has led to an epidemic with myriad adverse outcomes. We sought to evaluate the association of socioeconomic and racial disparities with healthcare utilization and outcomes in opioid overdose related hospitalizations using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2012 through 2014. [...]

Background: Drug overdose deaths involving opioids are on the rise in the setting of the current opioid epidemic in the United States (US).1 In 2017 there were ~46.6 drug overdose deaths a day in the US involving prescription opioids.1 Naloxone is a proven and effective opioid antagonist that is FDA approved for use in the [...]

Background: Driven by the current opioid epidemic, drug overdose has become the leading cause of unintentional death nationwide. Efforts are underway to decrease unnecessary opioid prescribing. Hospitalists care for many patients with preexisting opioid prescriptions or appropriately prescribed new opioids at discharge. Though naloxone decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdose, most patients [...]

Background: Opioid overdose in the United States continues to rise. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that is FDA-approved for reversing opioid overdose. Current CDC guidelines recommend prescribing naloxone to patients at high risk of opioid overdose, including patients with concurrent benzodiazepine use, a prior history of overdose, and those receiving high doses of opioids (>50 [...]

Background: An estimated 68,000 Americans died of opioid-related overdoses between March 2017-2018. In Monroe County NY heroin/fentanyl deaths are up 200% from 2015- 2017. Guidelines recommending naloxone co-prescription for high-risk patients on opioid pain medications have been issued. The inpatient setting provides unique opportunities for identifying patients at risk for opioid adverse events (OAE) and [...]

Background: Drug overdose deaths are increasing throughout the country. Increasing naloxone availability is a cost-effective way to prevent opioid-related deaths. High-risk patients admitted in the hospital may benefit from a take-home naloxone prescription. This study aims to assess naloxone prescribing practices upon hospital discharge. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to attendings, residents, and advanced [...]

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old African American woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, refractory hypertension, and cerebrovascular accident, was found unresponsive and hypotensive at home. On presentation, the patient was drowsy but arousable and oriented to person, place and time. Vitals were notable for sinus bradycardia (50s) and hypotension (SBP in 90s). She was [...]

Background: The opioid crisis remains a threat to public health nationwide. In NYC, there were 3,046 drug overdose deaths in 2023, a decrease of only 1% from 2022, with fentanyl involved in 80% of these fatalities. In 2021, the emergency department at our institution began distributing take-home naloxone kits to at-risk individuals on discharge through [...]

Background: There were approximately 46,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2017. It is known that opioid overdose risk is increased in patients with a diagnosis of substance use disorder, prior opioid overdose, and high suspicion of risk as assessed by clinical teams. The Risk Index for Overdose or Serious Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (RIOSORD) is a validated [...]