The role of mathematical modelling in aiding public health policy decision-making: A case study of the BC opioid overdose emergency

Estimating naloxone need in the USA across fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioid epidemics: a modelling study

“…For 100 kits per 100 000 people there is considerable range in the probability of naloxone use if distributed by community based programmes (range 20-51%), providerprescribed (4-14%), and pharmacyinitiated pathways (20-51%). Ranges in use narrowed when naloxone kits distributed by communitybased (range 89-100%) and pharmacy initiated pathways (89-100%) were modelled at thresh olds of 1000 kits per 100 000 people, but remained variable for prescriberbased pathways (35-76%; data are available on Naloxone Needed To Save website and in the appendix [pp [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]). Across statespecific results, naloxone kits provided through communitybased and pharmacyinitiated access points resulted in higher probability of naloxone use in witnessed overdose and a higher number of deaths averted per 100 000 population than did providerprescribed access points (data are available on Naloxone Needed to Save website and in the appendix [pp [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]).…”

The use of mathematical modeling to inform drug policy making

“…The emerging opioid overdose crisis in North America is addressed in two articles. Irvine and colleagues provide an important case study as to how modelers and policymakers collaborated to generate useful simulations of public health strategies to support the response to the opioid overdose crisis in British Columbia, Vancouver (Irvine et al, 2019). Colleagues from the Opioid Use Disorder Modeling writing group provide a commentary detailing the variety of uses for simulation models for considering the epidemic of opioid use disorder in the US, and interventions to tackle the epidemic (Group, 2020).…”

Take-home naloxone programs for suspected opioid overdose in community settings: a scoping umbrella review

“…In Canada, THN kits generally include a carrying case, non-latex gloves, alcohol swabs, a face shield for providing rescue breaths, instructions on overdose response, and either injectable or nasal formulations of naloxone, depending on the province [ 12 ]. Preliminary evidence suggests that THN has been an effective intervention at preventing opioid overdose deaths [ 9 , 14 , 15 ]. However, there are outstanding questions regarding THN program effectiveness and implementation, including adverse events after naloxone administration, naloxone dosing requirements and dose-response between routes of administration, and access (including accessibility, availability, and affordability).…”