New Study Highlights Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Naloxone Engagement

A recent study published in Health Affairs reveals that Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults in the U.S. have significantly lower rates of engagement with each step of the “naloxone care cascade” compared to White adults. This cascade is a framework encompassing awareness, access, training, possession, and use of naloxone to counteract opioid overdoses. This research calls out a need for culturally tailored and equity-focused strategies that address the systemic causes of racial and ethnic disparities in naloxone engagement.