Ariz. Admin. Code § 4-23-407.1

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R4-23-407.1 - Dispensing an Opioid Antagonist

A. As used in this Section:

1. "Community member" means any person in position to assist an individual at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. This includes emergency first responders, peace officers or other law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, school district employees, and personnel of a facility or center that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose.

2. "Opioid antagonist" means any drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that binds to opioid receptors, effectively blocking or inhibiting the receptor and preventing the body from responding to the opioid. Naloxone hydrochloride is an opioid antagonist.

3. "Opioid-related overdose" means an acute condition caused by excessive opioids. An opioid-related overdose can be identified by a triad of symptoms: decreased level of consciousness, pinpoint pupils, and respiratory depression. Other symptoms may include seizures, muscle spasms, and coma or death. An opioid-related overdose requires medical assistance.

B. When dispensing an opioid antagonist under A.R.S. § 32-1979, a pharmacist or pharmacy intern shall provide the following education

to the individual to whom the opioid antagonist is dispensed:

1. How to prevent an opioid-related overdose;

2. How to recognize an opioid-related overdose;

3. How to administer an opioid antagonist safely to an individual experiencing an opioid-related overdose;

4. Precautions regarding:

a. Potential side effects, and

b. Possible adverse events associated with administration of the opioid antagonist; and

5. Importance of seeking emergency medical assistance for the individual experiencing an opioid-related overdose before or after administering the opioid antagonist

.

C. Before dispensing an opioid antagonist under A.R.S. § 32-1979(A), a licensed pharmacist shall

complete an opioid prevention and treatment training program that includes the following information:

1. How to recognize the symptoms of an opioid-related overdose,

2. How to respond to a suspected opioid-related overdose,

3. How to administer all preparations of an opioid antagonist, and

4. The information needed by an individual to whom an opioid antagonist is dispensed

.

D. A pharmacist who has completed an opioid prevention and treatment training program described in subsection (C):

1. May administer an opioid antagonist to an individual the pharmacist believes is experiencing an opioid-related overdose, and

2. Is exempt from civil liability under the terms of A.R.S. § 36-2267(B).

E. Dispensing an opioid antagonist under A.R.S. § 32-1979 by invoice to a community member is not wholesale distribution as defined at A.R.S. § 32-1981.

F. When dispensing an opioid antagonist on a standing order, as defined under A.R.S. § 32-1968, a pharmacist or pharmacy intern shall comply with R4-23-407 except subsection (A)(1)(b), R4-23-408, and R4-23-409.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-23-407.1

Adopted by final rulemaking at 23 A.A.R. 967, effective 6/3/2017. Amended by final rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 1015, effective 6/1/2019.