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Why do we want naloxone? Increasing access and overcoming obstacles to its use

Why do we want naloxone? Increasing access and overcoming obstacles to its use. All Day Meeting Central Hall, Southampton 19 th March 2010. Acute drug related deaths. Problems with definitions - DRDs increasing 2-3% of heroin users die each year

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Why do we want naloxone? Increasing access and overcoming obstacles to its use

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  1. Why do we want naloxone?Increasing access and overcoming obstacles to its use All Day Meeting Central Hall, Southampton 19th March 2010

  2. Acute drug related deaths • Problems with definitions - DRDs increasing • 2-3% of heroin users die each year • Death rates among opiate users: 20 times the norm for age and gender • Released from prison in first two weeks: 29 times more likely to die (male) and 69 times higher (women) • OD leading cause of death among opiate users • 50 % opioid users has experienced a non fatal OD Source: International Centre for Drug Policy. Drug related deaths in theUK Annual report 2008. St George’s University of London

  3. Recognition and management of OD • Understand why people overdose • Identify risk factors • Recognise an overdose • Know what to do if someone overdose • Know about naloxone and how to use it • Clarify any myths/misconceptions • Instil confidence in dealing with an overdose

  4. What is it? • Opioid antagonist drug given by injection • Rapidly reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids and restores breathing • Established use by emergency services in UK over past two decades • Reverses effects of opiates for long enough for medical support to arrive • No adverse effects

  5. Access to naloxone • Licensed to be used to reverse effects of opioid overdose • Used by range of healthcare professionals - has to be prescribed • Increasingly prescribed to drug users and carers in UK • Not standard practice • In general a member of the public is not permitted to administer medication parenterally except to self in accordance with direction of practitioner • Law change allows administration by any member of the public for the purpose of saving a life (MHRA, 2005)

  6. Why not?

  7. Challenges • Prescription laws • Police involvement • Stigmatisation • Service limitations - lack of knowledge • User, carer, worker fears • Unwillingness to talk OD

  8. Next steps Creating opportunities: • Increasing knowledge • User, carer, workers and services • Embedding in drug treatment • Stimulate peer support -encourage users to claim access to naloxone • Powerful role for users and groups in pushing the agenda

  9. Thank you

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