Data Visualization: Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies

Major changes in opioid and naloxone dispensing occurred from 2017 to 2018.

High-dose opioid prescriptions

In 2017, there were 48 million high-dose opioid prescriptions dispensed. In 2018, there were 38 million high-dose opioid prescriptions dispensed, a decrease of 21%.

Naloxone prescriptions

In 2017, there were 270,000 naloxone prescriptions dispensed. In 2018, there were 556,000 naloxone prescriptions dispensed.

Co-prescribing naloxone is recommended for patients at risk for opioid overdose.

9 MILLION: Drawing of the U.S. showing a diverse group of people.   

If each person with a high-dose opioid prescription were offered naloxone,  nearly 9 million prescriptions for naloxone could have been dispensed in 2018.

Risk Factors for Overdose

• High-dose opioid prescriptions
• Opioids taken with benzodiazepines
• History of substance use disorder
• Misusing prescription opioids or using illicit drugs (either opioids or potentially contaminated with opioids)