Drug and Alcohol Findings. (2016) Scottish national naloxone programme saved lives after release from prison. Drug and Alcohol Findings Research Analysis, (27 September 2016),
External website: http://findings.org.uk/PHP/dl.php?file=Bird_SM_7.t...
In 2011 Scotland became the first country to fund a national policy of distributing the opiate-blocker naloxone to prevent deaths involving opiate-type drugs. According to this evaluation it did prevent deaths where the effect was most likely to be seen – in the weeks after release from prison..
Key points from summary and commentary
• Naloxone is an opioid antagonist which blocks the effects of opiate-type drugs, including those which lead to fatal overdose.
• In 2011 Scotland became the first country to fund a national policy of distributing naloxone to prevent deaths involving opiate-type drugs.
• A national evaluation found it did prevent deaths where the effect was most likely to be seen – in the weeks after release from prison.
See also
Cost-effectiveness of distributing naloxone to heroin users for lay overdose reversal. from Drug and Alcohol Findings Bulletin 21 December 2016
Life-saving potential of overdose education and nasal naloxone from Drug and Alcohol Findings Bulletin 27 September 2016
Long-acting opiate-blocker helps released prisoners avoid re-addiction from Drug and Alcohol Findings Bulletin 11 April 2016
Did prison methadone save lives in Scotland? from Drug and Alcohol Findings Bulletin 19 February 2016
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and rehabilitation > Harm reduction > Substance use harm reduction
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and rehabilitation > Health care programme, service or facility > Prison-based health service
P Demography, epidemiology, and history > Population dynamics > Substance related mortality / death
T Demographic characteristics > Prison Inmate (prisoner)
VA Geographic area > International
VA Geographic area > Europe > United Kingdom > Scotland
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