Naloxone reporting short life working group: Final report (Scotland)
This short report describes the purpose, process and meetings of the Naloxone Reporting Short Life Working Group (SLWG). This report also describes the recommendations of the SLWG and outlines the next stage in this change process, where organisations will review these findings and respond to them.
Main findings
- The focus of current PHS naloxone reporting is on monitoring numbers of Take Home Naloxone THN supplies. Currently, the national naloxone dataset contains limited data on:
- the numbers of people trained to administer naloxone (data record the number of naloxone kits supplied, rather than individuals trained). Some people may accept training in overdose awareness but not take a naloxone kit, and some services may hold a set number of supplies rather than provided each trained staff member with a supply;
- the numbers of people who carry naloxone on their person; and,
- the administration of naloxone (limited data on re-supply due to use on self/other are captured in the national naloxone dataset).
- While it was felt that information on other aspects of the NNP would be valuable, participants also recognised that the scope of data collection needed to be manageable.
- The group felt it was important to develop an understanding of the NNP’s
impact on health outcomes. - There was support for the Scottish Drug Death Taskforce’s (SDDT) recommendation of a National Naloxone Co-ordinator role or national oversight group. It was felt that this role would be important in establishing strategic priorities, developing the workforce to supply naloxone and promoting awareness of the NNP.
- There was support for the SDDT’s recommendation to increase hospital THN supply but recognition of the problems implementing this change in acute settings (for instance, regional variations in substance use liaison team availability to supply THN and limitations of relying on these teams).
- There was support for the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs’ recommendation for THN supply by NHS custody teams operating from police custody suites.