Summary
The UK Government is consulting on proposed legislative
amendments to widen access to take-home supplies of naloxone,
without a prescription.
This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 6 March 2024
Consultation description
Naloxone is a life-saving drug that reverses the effects of an
opioid overdose and can help to prevent overdose deaths. Anyone
can administer naloxone in an emergency, but currently only drug
treatment services can legally supply it to an individual for
future use.
We are seeking views in 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.
This consultation is the government’s official response to the
2021 consultation Expanding access to
naloxone. That initial consultation sought to expand the list
of named services and individuals that can distribute naloxone
without a prescription or other written instruction. We published
a summary of the findings for this consultation in March 2022.
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 safeguards
- specific data reporting requirements to enable more
consistent reporting across the UK
The consultation document provides further guidance. We welcome
responses from individuals or organisations who have experience
or expertise in substance use disorders.
Since the proposed changes to legislation would apply throughout
the UK, we have made this consultation available in England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Documents
Proposals to expand access
to take-home naloxone supplies
Draft Human Medicines
(Amendments Relating to Naloxone) Regulations 2024
Ways to respond
Respond online
