Who needs a free naloxone kit? Just about anyone who might come across an opioid overdose, according to a range of University of Alberta experts including a pharmacist, the head of campus security, a student volunteer and a public health scientist.
On Sunday at a media briefing in Edinburgh, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced that “the Lord Advocate has confirmed that – for the duration of this crisis – it would not be in the public interest to prosecute any individual – working for a service registered with the Scottish Government – who supplies naloxone in an emergency, to save a life”. This development aims to increase the distribution of naloxone kits by relaxing the rules around who can supply the life-saving medication. It remains the case that anyone can legally administer naloxone, to anyone, for the purpose of responding to a suspected opiate-related overdose.
The window clings with the well-known ‘save someone’ logo will be provided to local naloxone leads who will distribute to services in their health board area that have naloxone available for use in an emergency. Most of these services will have naloxone available to take home as well. The ‘save someone’ logo was established in 2012 and has been used by colleagues and agencies internationally to promote the life-saving medication.
Peer distribution of naloxone is the best way to get the opioid overdose reversal drug where it’s needed. Andy struts through Redcar town centre, his bright blue naloxone hoody protecting him from the fierce north sea breeze. He bellows hello to a woman across the street and fist bumps a guy he knows from his childhood. Then he sees a man he recognises from picking up his methadone script and it’s all systems go. Andy asks if he’s heard of naloxone. He hasn’t. He asks if he’d like to learn how to save a life. He would. The two sit together on a bench outside Sports Direct. In just eight minutes Andy expertly takes him through how to respond if someone has taken an opiate overdose. With a slap on the back, he hands the man a naloxone pack to keep and waves him on his way.
Nancy Campbell discussing her new book, OD: Naloxone and the Politics of Overdose with Points. Points is an academic group blog that brings together scholars with wide-ranging expertise with the goal of producing original and thoughtful reflections on the history of alcohol and drugs, the web of policy surrounding them, and their place in popular culture.
Opioid deaths are out of control, and the problem is plain to see in the fates of a generation of musicians. But the drug-blocking Naloxone can help. Multiple high-profile artists have died from accidental overdoses relating to opioids in recent years. The potent synthetic opiate fentanyl is believed to be a leading factor in the deaths of Prince and Tom Petty. The former died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, and it is believed that his prescription tablets were illegally cut with the substance. Petty died following an accidental overdose of unspecified painkillers: speaking to Rolling Stone, his family blamed fentanyl.
