Overdose deaths in the United States are declining, and we all want to know why. Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, has been studying drug overdose deaths for over 20 years. He spoke with DPA about what he sees behind recent overdose declines, including harm reduction, expanded access to naloxone, medications for opioid use disorder, and effective treatment.
Residents in Torbay are being encouraged to learn how to administer a life-saving anti-overdose drug and carry it with them. The Torbay Naloxone Tribe are training people how to inject the drug while also providing them with a free naloxone kit.
For years, harm reduction advocates have called for broader access to naloxone. The recent HMR amendments reflect not only these calls, but also the feedback received during recent public consultations on widening the availability of naloxone. At its simplest, the amendments significantly increase the number of organisations permitted to supply naloxone – in its nasal and intramuscular formats – to others, without the need for a prescription. Previously the regulations had restricted this ability to those employed or engaged by drug treatment service providers.
It started in 2016 when the VCU professor created the “Free Hot Coffee” bike, which people in Rams in Recovery — a program for students recovering from addiction — rode around campus. Then it evolved in 2019, when someone whose family was impacted by addiction and recovery donated the money needed to buy what’s now known as the bright blue “Free Naloxone” bike.
A gradual rollout of Naloxone will now take place across South Yorkshire following partnership work involving all four of the county’s local authorities. All police officers and operational staff must complete mandatory training before they will be allowed to carry it.
The list of participants joining the national naloxone push includes major corporations like Amazon, the National Hockey League, and United Airlines as well as some universities. Labor and contractor organizations have also signed on, along with restaurant and hospitality trade groups.