Turning Point has launched a national video campaign to highlight the importance of carrying the life-saving medication naloxone.
Naloxone is a first aid medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is available from drug treatment providers and some pharmacies.
Turning Point has created a video, that was shown at the DDN Conference in Birmingham on 10 July, to raise awareness of its naloxone Click & Deliver programme that is available at its substance use recovery services across the country.
In England, anyone can carry a naloxone kit. However, Turning Point recognised that there are people with mobility issues, or who live in rural areas where there is not a service nearby, and for some, particularly family members of people at risk of overdose, there is a fear of being stigmatised.
The Click & Deliver programme see naloxone kits delivered to people at a location of their choice. It is being implemented at Turning Point services across the country and is currently available in Somerset, Herefordshire, Leicester City, Leicestershire & Rutland, Lincolnshire, Rochdale & Oldham, Slough, Bristol, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, and Suffolk.
After filling out an online form and completing an optional short training session, individuals receive a free naloxone kit sent through the post in discreet packaging.
Zita, a peer mentor at Turning Point, has had first-hand experience with naloxone. ‘Naloxone is really important to me because not only has it been used to save my life, I have used it on others on four different occasions. I also know a number of people who have had their lives saved by the use of naloxone,’ she said.
‘When naloxone is used on you, you’re sometimes not aware of what has happened or the impact it has had on you or others around you. But being the person administering it, you see the positive action and quick effect of a life-saving medication.’
On one occasion on her way home, Zita came across someone who had overdosed. She quickly took out the naloxone kit from her bag, assembled it as she had been shown and injected the person’s thigh. It took the five doses to bring her back round. When the paramedics arrived, they said the naloxone had saved the person’s life. A minute later and the lack of oxygen could have caused permanent damage, if not death.
‘It definitely made me realise the importance of always making sure that the yellow box is in my bag. I’ve needed to use it a number of times since. If someone was thinking about carrying naloxone, I would definitely encourage them to do so. Not only can it save a life, there’s also no damage done while using naloxone if the cause wasn’t opioid – so there are only positives to carrying it, no negatives. Please carry naloxone, you can save a life.’
Natalie Travis, Turning Point national head of service, said, ‘With the increasing risk from potent synthetic opioids, it’s never been more important to make it as easy as possible for people to access naloxone. By removing the barriers experienced by some, Click & Deliver helps us raise awareness and make sure we’re getting naloxone into the hands of the people who need it.’
Adam Sutcliffe, senior operations manager at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, added, ‘The Click & Deliver service offers a discreet, convenient, and efficient way to distribute naloxone, ensuring that residents and professionals alike have the tools needed to protect vulnerable people in our community. In addition to our Click & Deliver service, we are also providing face to face training through our services.’
To view the naloxone Click & Deliver video, please click here.
To request a naloxone kit, please click here.
This blog was originally published by Turning Point. You can read the original post here.
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