A UK policy on 'take home naloxone' for opiate users - Strategy or stalemate?

There is a substantial evidence base which demonstrates that opioid-related deaths are common and increasing. Some of these deaths are preventable, through long-standing interventions used in accident and emergency departments. However, many opiate interventions implemented by opiate users are ineffective, although still explicitly used. These include: putting overdose victims into a cold shower; splashing the victim with cold water; injecting the victim with home made saline; inflicting pain; or walking the victim around the room. The debate surrounding the effectiveness and efficacy of distributing the opiate antagonist 'take home naloxone' (THN) to drug misusers is indicative of a sparse evidence base. The debate has been the focus of numerous papers. In the light of such papers, grey literature and significant changes in specific areas of legislation in an individual state in the USA, a systematic review has been conducted. This review identifies potential barriers, fears, practicalities and opportunities for legislation allowing drug users in the UK to be trained, and permitted, to carry naloxone for use ( when necessary) among their peer group.