"Naloxone Can Save Lives!" - Take-Home Naloxone Programs as Prophylaxis of Opiate Overdose Fatalities

Naloxone is an opioid-antagonist that has been used in emergency medical aid since more than 40 years. It reverses the effects of an opioid-overdose, like respiratory depression, within minutes. Since most of the cases of opioid-overdoses occur in private spaces and are witnessed by others (other drug-users, family, friends), the idea of making it accessible for medical lay-persons emerged in the mid-1990s. Since then, in more than 20 countries worldwide community-based opioid overdose prevention programs with naloxone distribution were implemented. Take Home Naloxone Programs (THN) are very divers, they vary a lot in sizes and forms because of different national legal restrictions and fundings. Studies show that lay persons are able to administer naloxone appropriately and savely. Furthermore there are indications for an influence of THN on reductions of opioid-related deaths. Therefore the distribution of naloxone to drug users and their families and peers is strongly recommended by WHO and EMCDDA. To date in Germany there are only two known projects. There is no evidence against the distribution of naloxone to persons at risk of an opioid-overdose or potential witnesses of an overdose. A nationwide coverage and particularly the distribution of naloxone in areas without harm reduction approaches and high rates of overdose deaths is recommended.