Patient education urged to prevent opioid OD after sobriety

(HealthDay)—The American Medical Association (AMA) encourages patient education to raise awareness of the risks associated with opioid use after a prolonged period of sobriety, according to a report in the organization's AMA Wire.

The AMA House of Delegates has called on the association to support development and implementation of appropriate education programs for patients recovering from opioid use disorder. The program would educate people about the dangers of using opioids after a significant period of sobriety. A reduced tolerance to opioids after a period of abstinence can result in overdose or death.

The House of Delegates also adopted new policy calling on the AMA to support and encourage airlines to include naloxone in their emergency medical kits. The drug is not currently required to be included in these kits.

"The AMA has been a longtime supporter of increasing the availability of naloxone for patients, first responders, and bystanders who can help save lives and seeks to bolster efforts to increase access to this medication," AMA board member Albert J. Osbahr III, M.D., said in a statement. "The AMA will encourage all U.S. airlines to include naloxone in their airline medical kits."

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