Are Take-Home Naloxone kits available at witnessed overdose events - a European Naloxone Outcome Research Study

Background: With rising numbers of overdose (OD) deaths, Take-Home Naloxone (THN) programmes have been introduced in many European countries targeting at-risk populations. Naloxone is an emergency medication, which when administered timely and at the right dose, can rapidly reverse an OD and prevent opioid OD fatality. THN programmes have been introduced to provide community members, who are likely to witness an opioid OD, with a naloxone kit and train them on how to recognise an OD and administer naloxone. To be able to successfully reverse an opioid OD, community members need to be carrying a THN kit with them when they witness one. This presentation will report on the proportion of witnessed OD where a THN kit was available, whose THN kit was available and what type of naloxone. 

Methods: A European, observational cohort study was conducted. Participants supplied with THN were recruited from treatment and harm reduction services in England, Wales, Scotland and Sweden between June 2021 and March 2024 and followed-up for 6 months.  They included: people who use opioids and were in treatment/out of treatment; friends, family members or carers, and staff working with people who use opioids. All participants either received THN and training at enrolment or had previously been given a THN kit prior to enrolment and received refresher training. Participants witnessing an opioid OD during the six-month period were asked to complete a structured questionnaire about the event, administered by a researcher. One witnessed OD event was captured per participant. We report on the first 1000 participants recruited between June 2021 and March 2023.

Results: Of the first 1000 participants recruited, 19% (194) reported witnessing an opioid OD. Naloxone was available at 88.7% (172/194) of the witnessed OD events reported and where a THN was available; in 45.4% (88) of events the kit belonged to the participant witnessing the OD; in 32.5% (63) of events the kit belonged to someone else and in 10.8%(21) of events there were multiple kits present. Findings will be presented by characteristic of participant (person using opioids in treatment/out of treatment, family member/carer, staff), location of OD, type of kit and country.

Conclusion: A THN kit was available at most of the witnessed OD events, however this may be due to recruitment bias and possibly location of OD event.