Inclusion were the first and only organisation to develop and implement a protocol approved by RCGP SMMGP to save lives by supplying Naloxone to reverse the effects of drug overdose in line with the 2015 legislation when this was changed. This pioneering service which continues to save lives is was awarded the 2016 Patient Safety Health Service Journal Award.
As part of the project a training programme was devised to train service users and appropriate others in overdose awareness and Naloxone administration. Once individuals are trained they are given a Naloxone kit. The Naloxone project was started initially as a pilot by Inclusion back in 2011 and updated in 2015, in line with new legislation.
Inclusion had started preparing for the potential change in legislation in July 2015 which enables the transition to the pioneering model would be rapid, maximising the number of potential lives we could save.
Britain has a high number of drug related deaths, with opiate overdose remaining a major cause of death among drug users. In particular, people being released from prison are at high risk of drug overdose when they resume drug taking on release. Since this date, we have continued to advocate for the provision of training and kits within prisons and are proud to say that this has been achieved in some of the prisons we work in and we are committed to continue this life saving work and break down barriers.
Naloxone is a drug which temporarily reverses the effects of opioids such as heroin, methadone and morphine. For many years it has been used within emergency medical settings to prevent death.
On 1 October 2015 the Human Medicines (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2015 (2015/1503) came into force. This allows Naloxone to be supplied to anyone in the course of lawful drug treatment services where required for the purpose of saving life in an emergency.
Inclusion, developed and implemented a protocol to supply Naloxone to reverse the effects of drug overdose in line with this legislation with significant results.
