Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jan 2013 Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL) Copyright: 2013 Orlando Sentinel Contact: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325 DRUG FOR OVERDOSE Distributing a drug that reverses overdoses in heroin users would save lives and be cost-effective, according to a new analysis. U.S. researchers, who published their findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine, calculated that one death may be prevented for every 164 naloxone injection kits they distribute to heroin users. That, the researchers say, works out to be a few hundred dollars for every year of healthy life gained. "The great news here is these overdose deaths can be prevented, it's cost-effective to do so, and may even be cost-saving," said Dr. Phillip Coffin, the study's lead author from the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Naloxone is a drug that stops opioids such as heroin from reaching receptors in the brain, which may reverse an overdose. The drug is currently only approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be injected into a person, but there are promising trials for an inhaled version of it. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D