Take-home naloxone can save lives — an overview of programmes
Many people overdose in the presence of their partners or peers. Empowering friends, family and other bystanders to act effectively, before emergency services arrive at the scene, can therefore save lives. Overdose prevention programmes, combining first aid training with the provision of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, were piloted in Europe in the late 1990s. Now available at local or national level in 12 European countries, these take-home naloxone (THN) programmes are targeted at-risk opioid users and those likely to witness an overdose.
The EMCDDA has published updated country profiles and factsheets from the 12 countries concerned, providing a state-of-the-art overview of THN programmes in Europe. These show how programmes have been enhanced through the availability of new ready-to-use naloxone products (e.g. pre-filled syringes and nasal naloxone sprays), which can be used by laypeople outside healthcare structures.