A new study elevating the voices of opioid users who survived an overdose found that emergency department healthcare workers can best support the overdose patients by utilizing a patient-centered, non-judgmental approach, and by focusing on meeting their basic needs rather than on substance use treatment.
In this long read, George Charlton explains why “Drug Users” should know their place, and that place is firmly front and centre and at the heart of every treatment system and service across the UK.
On election day, voters in Oregon took a decisive and important step to stemming the tide of overdose deaths and other drug-related harms. In a first-of-its kind ballot initiative, 58.5 percent of Oregonians voted to decriminalize personal possession of drugs, and invest heavily in treatment and services to help those struggling with addiction. While this move comes too late to help my son, Jonathan, who died of a heroin overdose in 2003, it will save countless lives going forward.
Minister for Health Martin Foley will today introduce amendments to the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act thatwill allow people other than pharmacists to seek authorisation to supply Naloxone to people who are at risk of, or who may witness, an overdose. This will include health workers in needle and syringe programs, and potentially other organisations that intersect closely with people who use opioids – including services such as alcohol and drug treatment providers, and through them, peers.
Inspired by a similar program in Las Vegas, Chicago Recovery Alliance, a non-profit harm reduction organization who provide syringe exchange and overdose prevention services, had been toying with the idea of putting up vending machines offering naloxone and safer use supplies for a long time. Dan Bigg, the alliance’s founder, used to talk about it regularly before his death in 2018, according to Karen Bigg, Chicago Recovery Alliance’s director of community relationships.
A safe drugs initiative that started with a mobile van has expanded with a new tent after police opted to turn a blind eye. Activist Peter Krykant raised cash for tents, manned by volunteers, after his converted minibus was used by scores of injecting heroin and cocaine users in Glasgow city centre. It was equipped with seats and tables, with sterile injecting equipment, a defibrillator and naloxone, which reverses the effects of heroin overdoses.
