Keep Calm and Carry Naloxone
Saving lives simply
N
aloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opiate/opioid overdose by blocking the effects of an opioid drug or medication (such as heroin, methadone, morphine, codeine, etc). Naloxone is safe to use, non-addictive and has no active effect other than to reverse opioid overdose. Administering naloxone can keep a person alive and breathing until the ambulance arrives. Naloxone is a short-acting medication so it is vital to call an ambulance and continue to monitor the overdosed person. It is important to use naloxone in addition to calling an ambulance, not instead of calling an ambulance! There are a number of circumstances that can be considered risk factors for opioid overdose. These
include: not having used opiates/opioids for a while (for example after prison, detox, or drug-free treatment), mixing opioids with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, using (injecting or smoking) alone or in an unfamiliar environment, and accessing opioids from a new or unfamiliar source (or if a regular source or supply has changed or their product is stronger than usual). Prior to 2016, naloxone was a PBS schedule-4 medication, which meant that it could only be provided on prescription by a medical practitioner. Anyone who wanted to access naloxone, in order to have it on hand to use in the case of witnessing an overdose, had to ask a GP for a prescription. It took a very brave and very determined person to stand up to the judgement and discrimination of their GP and ask for a naloxone prescription. In February 2016, naloxone became available over the counter at pharmacies. It was still available from medical practitioners as an S4 medication but it was now also available as an S3 medication that could be
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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 91 • October 2021
supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription. This was great news as it meant that people could purchase naloxone directly from a pharmacy without needing to see a GP. The aim was to make naloxone more accessible. The drawback was that the over-the-counter price of naloxone ranged from $40 to $60. In December 2019, SA commenced participation in the Australian Government Take Home Naloxone (THN) Pilot. Under the pilot, naloxone became available for free from participating pharmacies. Initially the pilot was to continue until February 2021. The pilot was extended until June 2021 and has now been extended for a further 12 months until June 2022. The Take Home Naloxone Pilot is a great initiative and is not restricted to people who inject drugs or people who use drugs illicitly. Many deaths involving opiate/ opioid use are a result of accidentally taking too much prescribed opioid medication. Vouchers to exchange for free naloxone can be obtained from hospitals, primary care settings, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services and,
