Naloxone

Illinois has joined a group of other states in offering a statewide standing order with accompanying opioid overdose educational resources for naloxone to all pharmacists and opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs. The statewide standing order allows pharmacists and naloxone training programs in Illinois to provide naloxone without a direct prescription to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as their family and friends and to others who may assist an individual suffering opioid-related overdose.

Solving the opioid crisis is going to take a comprehensive strategy that emphasizes prevention, treatment and recovery, and response, and involves multiple and interdisciplinary sectors.

Learn more about naloxone and its role in addressing the opioid epidemic in this section and in our main opioids web page.

Naloxone (Narcan®, Evzio®) is a prescription medication that can block or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Anyone can easily use naloxone to save the life of someone overdosing on opioids, including heroin or prescription medicines like OxyContin® or Percocet®.

The Illinois Naloxone Standardized Procedure is approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Human Services to provide guidance on the response to suspected opioid overdose and the administration of naloxone. This document updates the previous “Naloxone Standardized Procedures” issued in 2015.

The Naloxone Standing Order allows eligible entities, namely pharmacies and opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs to provide naloxone to any requesting person with the intent to respond to a suspected opioid overdose without a direct prescription. With this standing order, insurers, such as Medicaid and Medicare, can be billed. Eligible entities must complete approved training and education on naloxone administration to access the order.

Pharmacies utilizing the order should report naloxone dispensing information to the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program. Pharmacists must complete approved training and education on naloxone administration to access the order. Links for example training videos for pharmacists can be found under RESOURCES.

OEND programs utilizing the order must be enrolled with the Department of Human Services, Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Program.

• Prevention Training Utilizing the Illinois Naloxone Standing Order
• Illinois Naloxone Standardized Procedure and sample of the unsigned Illinois Naloxone Standing Order

• Illinois Naloxone Standing Order: Overview for Pharmacies Webinar
• Naloxone Overview and Patient Counseling
• Instructional Videos for Administration of Naloxone
• Illinois State Opioid Antagonist Training

For information on how to report naloxone dispensing to the IL PMP contact:
Prescription Monitoring
401 North Fourth Street
Springfield, IL 62702
Fax: (217) 557-7975
Phone: (217) 524-1311

More information for Pharmacists

• Prescribe To Prevent FAQ

To register your OEND with the Illinois Department of Human Services, Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Drug Overdose Prevention Program contact:

• IDHS/SUPR Drug Overdose Prevention Program
• DHS.DOPP.coordinator@illinois.gov

• Prescribe to Prevent Patient Education Videos

• SAMHSA Opioid Prescribing Courses for Health Care Providers
• Prevent & Protect FAQ
• Prevent & Protect Resources