SAMHSA overdose toolkit contradicts evidence on doses needed

Abstract

A “toolkit” (federalese for a brochure) on overdose prevention and rescue from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued last month has outdated recommendations for overdose rescue medications. The toolkit, which SAMHSA released at last month's annual CADCA conference, calls for giving one dose (4 mg) of naloxone initially, followed by a second dose two or three minutes later. It also says that studies show increased doses of naloxone are not necessary in the fentanyl era.