Proposals to expand access to take-home naloxone supplies
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Responses to the consultation were overwhelmingly supportive of the UK Government and devolved administration’s proposals for enabling more organisations and individuals to supply take-home naloxone.
There was widespread agreement that the proposed list of named services and professionals should be able to supply take-home naloxone without a prescription. Responses agreed with the need for training requirements, including on the storage and supply of naloxone, as well as how to support those people supplied with naloxone.
Responses showed very high levels of agreement with the proposals to expand naloxone access by establishing a new registration service. This would enable professionals and organisations not named in the legislation to supply naloxone (subject to appropriate training and safeguards).
Responses agreed with the proposal to establish a legislative gateway to support data sharing.
The UK Government and devolved administrations have worked together extensively to develop this policy and will continue to work together to bring forward the legislative changes outlined in the consultation. We aim to enact these changes this year, which will apply across the UK, subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the UK Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. This policy is reserved within Scotland and Wales, which means that it will be laid before the UK Parliament on behalf of England, Scotland and Wales.
Original consultation
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
Last updated 14 May 2024 + show all updates
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Published the government response to the consultation.
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First published.