Australian pharmacies now stock naloxone widely, knowledge drives supply

This national survey quantifies how pharmacist knowledge, attitudes, and pharmacy service context predict naloxone stocking under Australia's Take Home Naloxone (THN) program, informing harm-reduction workforce strategy.

naloxoneopioid overdoseharm reductioncommunity pharmacyTake Home Naloxoneopioid agonist treatmentcross-sectional surveyAustraliapharmacist practice Pain / Palliative Care

Background Information

Positive pharmacist attitudes drive naloxone availability in Australia.

Understanding pharmacists' roles can improve naloxone provision and overdose prevention strategies in the community. 73.2% of pharmacies stocked naloxone, with positive attitudes and knowledge significantly linked to its provision. Barriers included time and training issues. Despite positive findings, efforts to address barriers like lack of time and training could further enhance naloxone access in community pharmacies. Increasing naloxone education and support for pharmacists may enhance overdose prevention efforts.

📊 Deep Analysis Available

Subscribers get the full breakdown: study design, outcomes, pharmacist implications, clinical pearls, GRADE evidence grade, and a downloadable PDF report.

Subscribe for Full Access →

Authors: Picco L, Jung M, Laing R, Bratberg J, Sproule B, Nielsen S

Citation: Picco L, Jung M, Laing R, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices among Australian community pharmacists towards naloxone and overdose prevention: a national cross-sectional study. International journal of clinical pharmacy. 2026. doi:10.1007/s11096-026-02219-8

Article Links: PubMed · Journal / DOI

🎓

Reviewed by a licensed pharmacist

Every analysis is reviewed and approved by a licensed pharmacist before publication, ensuring clinical accuracy and relevance.

Accurate and up-to-date information is our highest priority.

If you spot an error, please suggest a correction. If there is a topic you want covered, tell us and we will look at it.

Suggest a correction Request a topic

Thanks for the feedback!

🔒

Deep Analysis: Subscribers Only

Subscribers receive access to a complete clinical analysis, available online and as a downloadable PDF.

Executive Summary

Study Design

Patient Population

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes & Safety Profile

Pharmacist Implications

Clinical Pearls

Limitations

Controversies & Evidence Gaps

Cost & Logistics

Want the full analysis?

Subscribe to PharmD Signal for unrestricted access to every deep analysis, plus PDF reports, GRADE evidence grades, and pharmacist implications for every article we publish.

Become a Subscriber →