Free naloxone is available for patients impacted by COVID-19 policy change. An order form for OTPs is now live.
Maryland Opioid Treatment Programs can work to
prevent COVID-19 among patients, staff, and communities by supporting social distancing with increased number of take-home medication doses. However, this must be balanced with mitigation of overdose risk associated with increased availability of methadone or worsened pulmonary function among patients from infection.
Maryland Department of Health Center for Harm Reduction Services in partnership with the Behavioral Health Administration is making the
overdose reversal drug naloxone (Narcan) available to OTPs to encourage overdose risk education and reduce risk of death.
Patients can be educated on overdose and given a naloxone kit to take home for use in an overdose emergency.
Due to limited supply, OTPs are asked to make the first request for kits based on assessment of their number of high risk patients. The criteria for prioritizing patients to receive naloxone kits in this first phase of availability:
Patients with persistently unstable Opioid Use Disorder
Patients over the age of 60 and those with high risk medical conditions, including COPD, asthma, any other pulmonary condition, blood disorders such as sickle cell, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, pregnancy, stroke, CHF, CAD, diabetes, HIV, or other immunosuppressed state. (This group of individuals is at higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection and could experience compromised pulmonary function and higher risk of respiratory depression even with stable OUD and stable methadone doses.)
Order naloxone kits for your OTP using this form. Find more information and FAQs for OTPs at the Behavioral Health Administration's webpage.