Consultation outcome

Expanding access to naloxone

From:
Department of Health and Social Care
Published
3 August 2021
Last updated
24 January 2024 — See all updates
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Detail of outcome

The consultation on Proposals to expand access to take-home naloxone supplies is the government’s official response to this consultation.

Following significant engagement across the devolved administrations, we are now seeking views on legislative proposals that go further than those consulted on in 2021 and include:

  • an amended list of named professionals and services that can supply take-home naloxone
  • a new registration service that would enable professionals and organisations not named in the legislation to supply naloxone (including homelessness and supported accommodation services), subject to appropriate training and safeguarding
  • specific data reporting requirements to enable more consistent reporting across the UK

Feedback received

Expanding access to naloxone: summary of feedback

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Detail of feedback received

The consultation received 704 responses. We received responses from all 4 UK nations. Just under a third of the responses were from organisations and just over two-thirds were from individuals.

There was strong support for the proposals in the consultation. Most of the respondents agreed that the individuals and services we consulted on should be able to supply naloxone without a prescription. Most respondents also agreed that allowing the individuals and services we consulted on to supply take-home naloxone without a prescription would help reduce overdoses and drug-related deaths.

You can find a more detailed summary of the consultation responses in the summary of feedback above, including anonymised comments that provide insight into respondents’ views on some of the proposals.

Original consultation

Summary

This consultation collected views on expanding the use of naloxone. It ran for 8 weeks and was open to all interested individuals and organisations.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

Naloxone is a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and can help to prevent overdose deaths. We are seeking responses to this consultation to assess the viability of proposals to widen access to naloxone by expanding the list of services and individuals that can give it out without a prescription or other written instruction.

The easiest way to participate is by completing the public survey.

The consultation document provides further guidance. We welcome responses from individuals or organisations who have experience or expertise in substance use disorders.

Documents

Expanding access to naloxone

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Updates to this page

Published 3 August 2021
Last updated 24 January 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added the final outcome.

  2. Added a summary of the consultation feedback.

  3. Added the link to the survey for this consultation.

  4. First published.

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