NALOXONE
The aim of the Scottish Drug Death Taskforce, as published in their report in 2022, is for Scotland to have the most extensive naloxone network anywhere in the world. The ambition is that anyone who may come into contact with a person experiencing an opiate-based overdose should have access to, and have been trained on how to use, naloxone.
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like codeine, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, heroin, methadone and buprenorphine. Most overdoses involve multiple substances. It should always be suspected that opioids are involved, given their presence in 84% of deaths in Scotland.
In Scotland, naloxone kits can come as either a pre-filled syringe, Prenoxad, or as a nasal spray, Nyxoid.
There are two naloxone services currently available in community pharmacies:
- Emergency Supply Naloxone
- Take Home Naloxone
A table distinguishing each service can be found here.