Naloxone Dispensers
Joint Protocol to Initiate Dispensing of Naloxone HCI Without a Prescription
Find a copy of the Joint Protocol here.
Patient Education Materials – Appendix A to Joint Protocol
Printer-friendly materials are attached to the Joint Protocol for dispensers’ convenient use when dispensing Naloxone without a prescription.
What do I need to do to begin dispensing Naloxone without a written prescription or a standing order by a prescriber?
The amendment to the South Carolina Overdose Prevention Act has given authority to pharmacists licensed in South Carolina permission to dispense Naloxone to persons meeting the criteria in the Joint Protocol. There are no particular steps that your pharmacy needs to take in order to activate its ability to dispense Naloxone other than follow the requirements in the Joint Protocol. We do ask that your pharmacy notify the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy through the form on this website if your pharmacy decides to dispense Naloxone without a written prescription or standing order by a prescriber.
Why is my pharmacy being asked to let the SC Board of Pharmacy know it is planning to dispense Naloxone pursuant to the Joint Protocol by filling out a form on the NaloxoneSavesSC.org website?
Letting the SC Board of Pharmacy know that your pharmacy plans to dispense Naloxone pursuant to the Joint Protocol will enable us to keep track of locations distributing Naloxone without a written prescription or standing order by a prescriber. Using this information, a list of pharmacies will be generated and posted on NaloxoneSavesSC.org to enable those seeking Naloxone to obtain it more easily. We will also be able to contact your pharmacy in the case of changes to the Joint Protocol.
Can I initiate a conversation with a patient about Naloxone even though the Joint Protocol says that the patient or caregiver must “voluntarily request” Naloxone?
Yes. This language was meant to deter rote dispensing of Naloxone to patients who have prescriptions for opiates without individual consideration of the person’s need for Naloxone. If a pharmacist identifies a patient or the caregiver of a patient who may be at risk for overdose, that pharmacist may initiate a conversation with the patient to determine whether he or she would like to receive Naloxone. At that point, if the patient indicates a desire to obtain Naloxone, he or she would be considered to have “voluntarily requested” the drug pursuant to the Joint Protocol.
What type of patient education is required under the Joint Protocol?
Every person dispensed Naloxone should receive education regarding the risk factors of overdose, signs of an overdose, overdose response steps, and the use of Naloxone. Examples of education materials that incorporate this information are attached as Appendix A to the Joint Protocol.