People exiting jail or prison are at very high risk for opioid-related overdose. Opioid-related overdose is the most frequent cause of death among people recently released from prison.
Peer to Peer Naloxone is a decentralised distribution mechanism designed by EuroNPUD for supporting people who use opiates. Mat Southwell is a veteran harm reductionist working on the frontlines for providing peer-led services to people who use drugs in the UK. Mat is a Project Coordinator at EuroNPUD.
Rosie Gilliver from Kirketon Road Centre presented at the 2020 NDARC Webinar Series on Thursday, 16 July 2020. This seminar provides information on how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, as well as how to administer Nyxoid Naloxone nasal spray in the event of overdose.
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.
Short video from SURE Recovery about naloxone provision in the UK.
