PAMED Joins AMA in National Push to Expand Naloxone Access
PAMED has partnered with the American Medical Association (AMA) on an issue brief to support expanded access to naloxone, a medication proven to reverse opioid overdoses when administered in time. The collaboration comes amid ongoing efforts to reduce overdose deaths nationwide.
According to recent data, more than 109,000 Americans died from drug-related overdoses in 2023, with illegally manufactured fentanyl cited as the leading cause. While the death toll has declined slightly, now estimated at over 80,000 annually, public health officials warn that continued action is needed to sustain progress.
The AMA has issued a series of recommendations aimed at removing barriers to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and increasing naloxone availability. These include encouraging physicians to prescribe and dispense naloxone to patients at risk of overdose, placing naloxone in public settings such as schools and libraries, eliminating insurance co-pays, and making the medication more visible in pharmacies.
PAMED’s decision to co-brand the AMA’s issue brief reflects a broader effort within organized medicine to promote evidence-based strategies for secondary prevention and reduce opioid-related harm across Pennsylvania.
Read full issue brief here.