Opioid antagonist Utilization Patterns in United States Emergency Department Visit: A Retrospective Study

Background: The aim of this study was to determine if emergency department (ED) visits due to opioid overdose are affected by patient demographics, geographic location, and type of insurance used for payment.
Methods: The type of opioid reversal agent used in the ED was assessed, including patient age, ethnicity, gender, insurance payer, and geographical region of the United States.
Results: Patients from the South (48.8%), above 50 years old (44.1%), and the White population (44.9%) had the greatest number of opioid overdose vases versus their comparable demographics. There was a statistically significant difference amongst various regions included in, with the South having the largest number of patients receiving opioid reversal agents (p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between various payment forms, with most patients of both genders paying out-of-pocket (p = 0.003). There were no significant differences between male and female patients in terms of which antidote was received (p = 0.595).
Conclusions: Policy and healthcare changes are necessary to prevent intentional opioid overdose and its etiology.