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Table 1 Characteristics of naloxone access, source utilization, and beliefs among potential opioid overdose “bystanders” (N = 260) surveyed in Massachusetts, 2020

From: If we build it, will they come? Perspectives on pharmacy-based naloxone among family and friends of people who use opioids: a mixed methods study

 

Total N = 260

 

n (%)

Ever purchased or otherwise obtained naloxone

201 (77)

  Median number of times obtained naloxone (interquartile range (IQR))

3 (2–7)

  Reason(s) for not obtaining naloxone

59 (23)

    Don’t need ita

50 (85)

    Not comfortable asking for ita

3 (5)

    Don’t know where to get ita

2 (3)

    Confidentiality concernsa

2 (3)

    Too expensivea

1 (2)

  Places where naloxone has been obtained

201 (77)

    Support groupb

100 (50)

    Pharmacyb

63 (31)

    Syringe service/harm reduction programb

41 (20)

    Hospital, physician’s office, health clinic, health department, and/or EMTb

41 (20)

    Treatment or recovery centerb

38 (19)

    Friend/family memberb

14 (7)

    Police departmentb

4 (2)

    Fire departmentb

1 (1)

Know how to use naloxone

237 (91)

Everyone in the home knows where naloxone is and how to use itb

114 (57)

Have recommended naloxone to others

196 (75)

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about naloxone (n (%) who strongly agree or agree)

  Everyone who has a close family member or friend who uses illicit or prescription opioids not prescribed for them should have naloxone

258 (99)

  I would be comfortable going to a syringe exchange/harm reduction program to get naloxone

217 (83)

  Naloxone is just a band-aid on the drug problem

56 (22)

  Everyone should carry naloxone, regardless of whether they know someone who uses opioids or not

190 (73)

  Concern about stigma keeps people from getting naloxone

225 (87)

  Knowing naloxone is available makes people who use drugs act more irresponsibly

64 (25)

  Naloxone is affordable

145 (56)

  Concern about confidentiality keeps people from getting naloxone at the pharmacy

166 (64)

  I want to receive counseling every time I purchase naloxone at the pharmacy

111 (43)

  I worry that people will judge me negatively if they find out I have naloxone

58 (22)

  Knowing naloxone is available encourages drug use

39 (15)

  I do not want to have a record of naloxone purchase on my insurance or medical record

66 (25)

  Naloxone is still effective after its labeled expiration date

136 (52)

  Aware that naloxone can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription

177 (68)

  Have tried purchasing naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescription

54 (21)

  Reason(s) for not trying to purchase naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescription

205 (79)

    Already have a reliable free sourcec

87 (42)

    Don’t need itc

79 (39)

    Thought a prescription was neededc

31 (15)

    Too expensivec

8 (4)

    Worried what people will thinkc

5 (2)

    Confidentiality concernsc

4 (2)

    Not comfortable asking for itc

4 (2)

    Don’t know where to get itc

4 (2)

  Median number of times tried to purchase naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescription (IQR)

2 (1–4)

  Have successfully purchased naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescriptiond

47 (87)

  For first pharmacy purchase attempte:

68 (26)

    Felt comfortable going to the counter to ask for naloxonef

50 (74)

    Expected the person at the pharmacy counter to know exactly what you were asking forf

60 (88)

    Expected the person at the counter to treat you with respectf

55 (81)

    Were worried what the pharmacy staff would think of you when asking for naloxonef

27 (40)

    Were worried about confidentialityf

30 (44)

    Got all the information needed during the purchase to confidently respond to an overdosef

30 (44)

  Would go to a pharmacy for naloxone againf

54 (79)

  1. aPercentages calculated based on n = 59 who had never purchased or otherwise obtained naloxone; bPercentages calculated based on n = 201 who had ever purchased or otherwise obtained naloxone; cPercentages calculated based on n = 205 who had never tried to purchase naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription; dPercentage calculated based on n = 54 who had ever tried to purchase naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescription; eIncludes pharmacy naloxone purchase attempts with and without a prescription; fPercentages calculated based on n = 68 who had tried to purchase naloxone at a pharmacy with or without a prescription