No Cover Image

Journal article 9 views

Would provision of Take Home Naloxone Kits by Emergency Medical Services be perceived as acceptable to people at risk of opioid overdose? A qualitative study

Jane Hughes Orcid Logo, F C Sampson Orcid Logo, Penny Buykx Orcid Logo, Jaqui Long Orcid Logo, Adrian Edwards Orcid Logo, Bridie Evans Orcid Logo, Steve Goodacre Orcid Logo, Matthew Jones, Chris Moore, Helen Snooks Orcid Logo

Prehospital Emergency Care, Pages: 1 - 15

Swansea University Authors: Bridie Evans Orcid Logo, Matthew Jones, Chris Moore, Helen Snooks Orcid Logo

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

Abstract

Take home naloxone kits can reduce mortality, but we know little about how they are perceived by people with lived experience of opioid use. Provision of naloxone in the community has been shown to significantly reduce mortality from opioid overdose. Currently, this is predominantly through drug tre...

Full description

Published in: Prehospital Emergency Care
ISSN: 1090-3127 1545-0066
Published: Informa UK Limited 2024
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68636
Abstract: Take home naloxone kits can reduce mortality, but we know little about how they are perceived by people with lived experience of opioid use. Provision of naloxone in the community has been shown to significantly reduce mortality from opioid overdose. Currently, this is predominantly through drug treatment support services but expanding provision through other services might be effective in increasing kit take-up and mortality reduction. This study aimed to examine participants' experiences of opiate overdose and acceptability of provision of naloxone kits through ambulance/paramedic emergency services (EMS) and hospital Emergency Departments (ED). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 people who had direct experience of opioid use. Participants were recruited at two substance-use treatment centres and a third sector support organisation in three large cities in the United Kingdom. Interviews examined respondents' experiences of opioid use and opioid overdose, access and personal use of naloxone kits, and opinions about kit provision from EMS and hospital ED staff. Interview data were thematically analysed using a constant comparative method. Four key themes were identified during analysis: 1) High levels of overdose experience and knowledge of naloxone and naloxone kits; 2) naloxone kits were perceived as effective and easy to use 3) There were some concerns around the risks of administering naloxone, such as peer aggression during withdrawal. 4) Participants supported much wider personal, family and peer provision of naloxone kits from community support organisations as well as from EMS. Participants felt naloxone kits were an important resource and they wanted increased provision across a range of services including EMS and hospital ED staff as well as community pharmacies and needle exchange centres. Participants wanted naloxone kit provision to be extended to peers, family and friends.
Keywords: Take Home Naloxone, Opioid, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Department, Qualitative
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: The TIME study has been funded by the NIHR HTA (Health Technology Assessment) programme (reference 16/91/04).
Start Page: 1
End Page: 15