‘Drug related deaths are avoidable’: Addiction service hands out free take-home antidote to opiates

A hospital that helps with addiction is marking International Overdose Awareness Day 2022 with free supplementary antidotes to opiates.

People under addictions services at South London and Maudsley will have access to a free supplementary naloxone antidote dose, a medicine which reverses the effects of opioids.

This is an extra dose in the form of a glass ampoule which is stored inside a simple cannister which can be attached to keyrings.  

David Bradley, chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We hope that by supplying take-home naloxone in this way we can help to keep people as safe as possible.”  

The trust said its pharmacists and nurses had piloted a successful project to support people to take naloxone home following discharge – a service previously only been provided from within  addiction  treatment services.  

Professor Sir John Strang, director of the National Addiction Centre of King’s College London, said: “Every year, globally, more than 150,000 people die from opioid overdose, and yet we have an effective antidote, naloxone, which reverses the overdose within a few minutes.   

“The key rings are a reminder of the importance of carrying Naloxone with you. It’s also helpful for clinical staff who may need this where an overdose has occurred – particularly in multiple or extreme overdoses. 

“We are continuing our work to bring the best of the NHS and the best of British university minds together to tackle this problem of opioid overdose deaths.” 

Pictured top: Naxolone keyrings (Picture: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust)