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<p>Naloxone is highly effective in reducing opioid overdose-related deaths, and the
Government is working to widen access to, and increase the uptake of, this life saving
drug. A prescription only medicine that is available across the United Kingdom, naloxone
can be prescribed by a doctor or non-medical prescriber or provided, under a Patient
Group Direction. It can also be supplied without prescription by drug services, which
include specialist National Health Service and voluntary sector treatment services,
as well as community pharmacies providing other substance misuse services across the
UK.</p><p>Naloxone has been available for anyone to use in an emergency since 2005.
There is good awareness of it, supported by earlier guidance by the Department and
its agencies in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2023. Drug treatment services and their suppliers
also provide independent awareness-raising materials, targeting people who use opioids.</p><p>The
Government launched a UK-wide public consultation to seek views on our proposal to
amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 so that more professionals, services, and
family members can give out take-home naloxone supplies. The consultation closed on
6 March 2024, and the responses are currently being analysed. The Government will
publish its official response shortly.</p><p>The Government is working to increase
naloxone carriage, and has provided additional investment in drug treatment services
to support this work. In England, local authorities and their partners have been increasing
naloxone supply in recent years. There are now three naloxone products available,
and supply has been meeting demand. To enable the Government to respond to any future
change in demand for naloxone, the Department is working with the Home Office to model
scenarios where demand for naloxone may increase, and has conducted a commercial engagement
exercise to better understand the naloxone market, and the market’s capacity to respond
to changes in demand.</p>
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