What are take-home naloxone programs?

Many opioid overdose deaths occur with others present, indicating that timely intervention, like administering naloxone, could prevent fatalities. Unfortunately, people who overdose often do not receive the necessary medical assistance because witnesses - frequently other drug users - may not recognize the severity of the situation, hesitate to call emergency services due to fear of police involvement or legal consequences, or lack access to naloxone. Take-home naloxone (THN) programs address these issues by combining overdose risk and management training with naloxone distribution for potential bystanders. These programs aim to increase the availability of naloxone in locations where overdoses are likely to happen, empowering individuals to act in emergencies.

While naloxone has been used reliably in hospital settings to reverse opioid overdoses for over 50 years [^1], the advent of THN programs and naloxone distribution and use by community members has expanded widely in more recent years. The first community-based naloxone projects in the United States and Europe started in the 1990s [^2]. Given the dramatic increase in fatal opioid overdoses over the past decade in the United States, these jurisdictions began to prioritise increased access to naloxone and overdose education. In many countries worldwide, naloxone is only available to health professionals, although some jurisdictions are adopting policies to make the antidote more widely accessible. Naloxone is available in pharmacies without prescription in Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Ukraine [^3].

Generally, THN programs aim to equip individuals who are at risk of witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose with naloxone and to train them in overdose recognition and response. Preliminary evidence suggests that THN has been an effective intervention at preventing opioid overdose deaths [^2].

Overdose training is a vital part of take-home naloxone (THN) programs, providing participants with essential knowledge and skills to prevent opioid overdoses and reduce the risk of fatalities. This training also covers the proper use of naloxone. It can be offered in various formats, from structured classes to informal, one-on-one discussions. Training length varies as well, ranging from comprehensive hour-long sessions to brief conversations covering the basics of overdose response. Training materials, such as presentation slides, printed handouts, and takeaway pamphlets, support the delivery of this critical information.