On March 23, 2022, the Wolf Administration announced an expansion of Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson’s naloxone standing order to include a form of eight milligram (mg) naloxone nasal spray. Any member of the public can print out a copy of the standing order and present it at their local pharmacy to obtain life-saving naloxone.
ABC27 News reporter Daniel Hamburg reached out to Gaudenzia, Inc. for an industry take on the decision, speaking with our Regional Medical Director, Dr. Phillip Moore, about the historic overdose crisis impacting the state.
“It is a critical moment, and it is very fortunate that we have access to this,” Dr. Moore told ABC27 News, acknowledging that there’s still a lot of work to be done to treat substance use disorder and prevent overdose deaths.
Gaudenzia, Inc. applauds the state’s life-saving decision to provide public access to the higher dose of naloxone. In 2020, the overdose crisis claimed the lives of 14 Pennsylvanians per day. Upon reviewing our own data, Gaudenzia, Inc. revised its policy in 2020 to require all clients to receive naloxone upon discharge, regardless of a substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. An individual is not required to have medical training to administer naloxone, but members of the public can create an account through Train PA for access to training and resources on administering naloxone in the event that they come into contact with someone who is experiencing an overdose.
