On International Overdose Awareness Day, Sunday, the 31st August, thousands of people worldwide will pay tribute to those who have been lost to overdose. Overdose Awareness Day offers an opportunity to stimulate conversation about stigma, current responses to overdose, and how these preventable deaths can be avoided.
The use and distribution of the drug Naloxone is something that has been investigated recently as an overdose prevention mechanism. Naloxone is a life-saving drug already used by paramedics and health professionals with overwhelming success. It has few side effects and has no psychoactive or addictive qualities. It is currently a schedule 4 medication which means that it is prescription only, and can only be administered to the person for whom it is prescribed.
In 60% of cases of overdose there is a friend or family member present who is in the best position to administer the drug. If this is done early many serious and ongoing health problems such as brain injury can be prevented. Peer administered Naloxone programs provide an opportunity for people who use opioids to be introduced to treatment services which may help them on the road to recovery.
According to Jann Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmania’s peak body the Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Council, “It is incomprehensible that we would accept this tragic preventable loss of life when we know programs such as the peer administered naloxone project in the ACT and other states have proven to be effective in the reduction of fatal overdoses.”
“We need to do something now to address this increasingly complex issue” she said.
“Naloxone distribution and training programs operate in many other countries including the UK, the US, Germany, Canada and Central Asia so the expansion of naloxone availability should be considered by all states and territories, including Tasmania” said Ms Smith.
For more information about overdose awareness day please visit the International Overdose Awareness Day website – http://www.overdoseday.com/
Amanda Street Sector Capacity Building Project Officer Alcohol, Tobacco & other Drugs Council Tasmania
