In Pennsylvania, naloxone is available for anyone across the state, but rural counties report some of the lowest naloxone administration and overdose survival rates.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of opioid overdose in the nation, and, according to Penn State researchers, one's chances of surviving that overdose can depend on where the person lives.
The chance of surviving an opioid overdose is greatly improved when a person receives naloxone, but access to the lifesaving drug varies widely across Pennsylvania, according to a new study from Penn State University. Philadelphia offers the best availability to the drug, also known as Narcan; Clinton and Huntingdon counties offer the least access.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of opioid overdose in the nation, and, according to Penn State researchers, one’s chances of surviving that overdose can depend on where the person lives. Using data from the PA Overdose Information Network, geography researchers looked at the prevalence of overdoses in the state and found the availability of the anti-overdose therapeutic naloxone to be a key factor in overdose survival.