I am proud to announce our article Community-Originated Research to Identify Access Gaps in Over-the-Counter Naloxone Availability in Connecticut Pharmacies has been published in the Harm Reduction Journal. The article, which began as a school project my daughter Zoey started by surveying pharmacies in Hartford about naloxone availability, was expanded statewide and the results were written up by Katie Hill, a researcher at Yale. Both my daughter and I are co-authors.
Here’s the article’s conclusion:
Despite widespread availability, naloxone access was restricted by its in-store location, high cost, and inadequate signage. This highlights a notable discrepancy between naloxone availability and accessibility, suggesting a lag in the effective implementation of policy in intended settings.
These were recommendations for people seeking naloxone:
Those hoping to access naloxone should note it may not be prominently displayed and might be available only behind the pharmacy counter. Thus, despite the recent federal approval of OTC naloxone, this life-saving medication may be available only when the pharmacy is open and if a customer knows to ask for it. Accordingly, we recommend people ask pharmacists for a prescription to lower costs, call ahead to confirm availability, and/or seek naloxone that is distributed for free through community-based harm reduction organizations.
You can download the article here for free.
This is the fourth scientific article I have been either a primary or co-author of which was successfully published. I have another currently in peer review. Scientific writing is bit different than writing books or blog entries, and involves peer review, where experts in their field offer suggestions, and many revisions are often required, but it is ultimately very rewarding to see your work end up in print. The article was my daughter’s first publication and she deserves great congratulations for her work!
