Naloxone, also known as the emergency antidote for opioid overdoses, is a life-saving medication that everyone should know about. It works by quickly reversing the dangerous effects of opioids, including those caused by heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone. Opioids can slow or stop breathing, and naloxone restores normal breathing almost instantly, making it an essential tool in emergency overdose situations.

Naloxone is typically a prescription-only medicine, but legislation allows it to be supplied without a prescription in certain circumstances, ensuring it reaches the people who need it most. This article will explore how Naloxone and overdoses are connected, how naloxone is supplied without a prescription, who can provide it, and how it can be used to save lives.

Understanding Naloxone and Overdoses

Opioid overdoses are a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Naloxone, when used promptly, can reverse these overdoses by blocking the harmful effects of opioids on the body. Both injectable and nasal spray formulations of naloxone are available, making it accessible and easy to use, even for non-medical professionals.

Importantly, anyone can use naloxone to save a life in an emergency. You don’t need to be a doctor or nurse; you just need to be equipped and trained to recognise an overdose and administer the medication.

Who Can Supply Naloxone Without a Prescription

Under current regulations, a range of people and services can supply take-home naloxone without the need for a prescription. This is aimed at increasing the availability of naloxone to prevent overdose-related deaths.

Professionals Allowed to Supply Naloxone

• Drug treatment workers.
• Registered paramedics, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.
• Nurses and midwives.
• Employees in the medical services of the armed forces.
• Police officers and probation services.

These individuals can supply naloxone to individuals such as those at risk of overdose, their family members, carers, or others who may be in a position to assist during an emergency.

Legislation Supporting Naloxone Supply

The Human Medicines Regulations were updated in 2015, 2019, and most recently in 2024 to expand access to naloxone. The amendments allow for named professionals and services to distribute naloxone, with optional provisions enabling those who wish to be registered to supply naloxone under specific schemes.

This updated regulatory framework ensures that naloxone is accessible to a wider audience while maintaining safeguards regarding who can supply it and under what conditions.

How Naloxone is Supplied

Naloxone is typically provided in two forms to make administration as straightforward as possible.

1. Injectable Naloxone – Provided intramuscularly using products like Prenoxad injection.
2. Nasal Spray Naloxone – Administered via the nasal route using products such as Nyxoid or a 1.26mg nasal spray.

These products are designed to be simple to use, ensuring that anyone—even those with minimal training—can administer them effectively in an emergency.

Training is a key component of naloxone distribution. Those supplying naloxone, as well as individuals receiving it, require proper instruction to ensure safe handling, storage, and use.

Why Naloxone Saves Lives

Early administration of naloxone in overdose situations significantly reduces the risk of death or permanent harm. It can be used on adults, children, and even adolescents, with professionals making decisions on a case-by-case basis about who to supply naloxone to.

Naloxone has a strong safety profile, though it may cause mild side effects such as nausea or sweating. These risks are minimal compared to the overwhelming benefit of saving someone’s life.

The regulations also ensure that naloxone can be revised for off-label use under specific clinical guidelines, further improving access to this critical medication for vulnerable groups, including children with unique needs.

Expanding Naloxone Access

Work is ongoing to broaden access to naloxone even further. A new registration service has been introduced to enable non-named professionals and services to supply take-home naloxone. This initiative aims to make naloxone readily available to those not directly covered by the original regulations, thereby ensuring more lives can be saved.

Additionally, police forces and commissioned drug services can now independently procure naloxone directly from pharmaceutical suppliers without requiring patient-specific instructions. This expanded access reflects the commitment to tackling the opioid crisis effectively.

Using Naloxone in Emergency Situations

Education and awareness are crucial for communities where the risk of opioid overdose is high. Here’s what to do in an emergency when naloxone is available:

1. Recognise the signs of an overdose – Symptoms include slow or absent breathing, blue lips or fingertips, and unresponsiveness.
2. Administer Naloxone – Follow the instructions for either injectable or nasal naloxone.
3. Call Emergency Services – Dial 999 immediately, inform them that naloxone has been used, and continue to monitor the person until help arrives.

Training people who are likely to encounter overdose situations is one of the most effective ways to increase survival rates. Supporting services and offering guidance on naloxone use ensures widespread competency in its application.

Ensuring Proper Training and Governance

Training is a crucial element of supplying and using naloxone. All those involved must be adequately prepared to ensure the safe and effective supply and use of naloxone. Key elements of training include the safe storage of naloxone, stock management, and monitoring its usage.

For services providing naloxone, maintaining records supports stock control and helps evaluate the impact of naloxone distribution in reducing overdose-related deaths, reinforcing the critical message that Naloxone saves lives.

Funding for naloxone supply and training is often arranged locally, with support from drug treatment services where available.

Source: GOV.UK