The opioid epidemic affects millions of Americans every year. To address this public health crisis, in a recent statement, the FDA provided some guidelines for health care professionals when prescribing or renewing an opioid analgesic or medicine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).

In the statement, the FDA noted that it is important for health care professionals to routinely discuss the availability of naloxone with all patients when prescribing or renewing an opioid analgesic or medicine to treat OUD. Additionally, it may also be important to consider prescribing naloxone to patients who have been prescribed medication to treat OUD previously or patients who may be at an increased risk of an opioid overdose. Read More