About this Course
****IMPORTANT UPDATE****
Update August 2024: Naloxone Availability
Note that, despite their mention in this activity, intramuscular (IM) naloxone autoinjectors are no longer commercially available in the United States (U.S.). Prefilled syringes, however, remain available for IM administration of naloxone.
Additionally, since the original release of this continuing education activity, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved naloxone for nonprescription marketing. It’s important to know that the prescription to over the counter (OTC) switch does not automatically apply to all forms of naloxone. Each manufacturer of existing naloxone products must individually apply for redesignation to OTC status. Visit Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs to check the up-to-date status of any naloxone product before dispensing.
The FDA deemed naloxone nasal spray safe enough for OTC use, but that doesn’t preclude the need to counsel individuals on its safe and appropriate use. Pharmacists should counsel all patients buying OTC naloxone nasal spray about signs of an opioid overdose, how to administer naloxone, and other important clinical pearls.
We encourage all individuals completing this certificate to review our activity An Over-The-Counter Lifesaver: Increased Intranasal Naloxone Accessibility for more information on this topic.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this application based CE Activity, a pharmacist will be able to:
| • Identify the risk factors for and clinical presentation of a person with an opioid overdose |
| • Discuss naloxone use as an opioid antagonist |
| • Describe naloxone prescribing and dispensing instructions for intranasal and intramuscular dosage forms |
| • Discuss how to administer intranasal and intramuscular naloxone |
| • Review current CT state laws regarding naloxone access |
| • Discuss proper counseling points and technique |
| • Discuss the referral of patients and caregivers to support programs, 211, and physicians specializing in addiction services |
Release and Expiration Dates
Released: August 29, 2024
Expires: August 29, 2027
Course Fee
$50 Pharmacist
ACPE UAN
0009-9999-24-040-H03-P
Session Code
21NP17-TXX24
Accreditation Hours
2.0 hours of CE
Additional Information
How to Complete Evaluation: When you are ready to submit quiz answers, go to the BLUE take test/evaluation button.
Accreditation Statement
| The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. |  |
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are eligible to participate in this application-based activity and will receive up to 2.0 CE Hours (or 0.2 CEUs) for completing the activity ACPE UAN 0009-9999-24-040-H03-P, passing the quiz with a grade of 70% or better, and completing an online evaluation. Statements of credit are available via the CPE Monitor online system and your participation will be recorded with CPE Monitor within 72 hours of submission.
Grant Funding
There is no grant funding for this activity.
Faculty
Gillian M. Kuszewski, Pharm.D.
UConn Health Center
Farmington, CT
Faculty Disclosure
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines, The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy requires that faculty disclose any relationship that the faculty may have with commercial entities whose products or services may be mentioned in the activity.
- Gillian M. Kuszewski has no relationships with ineligible companies
Disclaimer
The material presented here does not necessarily reflect the views of The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy or its co-sponsor affiliates. These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products, processes, procedures and inferred diagnoses that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity.
Content
Post Test
Pharmacist Post-test
1) Opioid overdose only occurs in low socio-economic groups? T/F
2) Which of the following is not a risk factor for Opioid Overdose?
a. History of opioid addiction (especially after abstinence)
b. Daily opioid doses less than 100mg of morphine equivalents
c. Comorbid mental illness
d. Concurrent use of benzodiazepines or alcohol
3) Which of the following is not a clinical presentation with an opioid overdose?
a. Slow breathing or respiratory arrest
b. Blue fingernails and lips
c. Dilated pupils
d. Vomiting or making gurgling noises
4) Naloxone is expensive and hard to administer? T/F
5) Naloxone should be used when
a. Breathing status is normal or fast
b. Breathing status is slow
c. Not breathing or gasping
d. B and C
6) Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist at the mu, kappa and sigma receptors? T/F
7) Which of the following is TRUE when using intranasal naloxone?
a. Person needs to be breathing to use
b. Does not need to be assembled
c. Need to tilt person’s head backwards to prevent the medication from running out of the nose
d. The recipient will experience pain when it is given
8) Which of the following is FALSE when using intramuscular naloxone?
a. Can be administered into thigh or another large muscle
b. Can administer a second dose after 2-5 minutes
c. Wait 2 to 5 minutes before administering a second dose
d. Inject half the contents of the syringe, then wait 2 minutes and repeat
9) After receiving Naloxone, the patient never requires medical attention? T/F
10) Naloxone has duration of action of 20-90 minutes; therefore, the person can go back into overdose if long acting opioids were ingested? T/F
11) A pharmacist who is licensed and registered in the State of Connecticut, and who has been trained and certified regarding the proper prescribing of naloxone, may prescribe an opioid antagonist to which of the following people:
a. The drug addicted patient.
b. The drug addict’s mother or father.
c. A friend of the drug addicted person.
d. Any person who is concerned about the drug addicted person.
e. All of the above answers are correct.
12) When prescribing an opioid antagonist, the pharmacist:
a. May delegate a pharmacy technician to provide training regarding the administration of the opioid antagonist to the person to whom the opioid antagonist is dispensed as long as the pharmacy technician is under the direct supervision of the pharmacist and has been properly trained by the pharmacist.
b. Must show a video depicting the proper administration of the medication to the person to whom the opioid antagonist is dispensed and obtain a signature of the person to whom the opioid antagonist is dispensed to.
c. Must personally provide appropriate training regarding the administration of the opioid antagonist to the person to whom the medication is dispensed and maintain a record of such dispensing.
d. Is under no obligation to provide training regarding the administration of an opioid antagonist to the person to whom it is being dispensed although it is recommended that the pharmacist provide such training to avoid potential law suits.
e. Must first obtain permission from the patient’s doctor or practitioner prior to prescribing an opioid antagonist.
13) A pharmacist may only prescribe an opioid antagonist if the pharmacist has been trained and certified by a program approved by the Connecticut Medical Society and Department of Public Health.
True False
Handouts
VIDEO