Naloxone Injection - used to treat opioid overdose
Naloxone belongs to a group of medicines called “opioid antagonists.” In Ireland naloxone is given by
injection to counteract and reverse the harmful effects of opioids. It is used to restore the body’s
breathing if it has been affected by opioids such as heroin, methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl,
buprenorphine, and morphine, for example after an overdose of these drugs, or when an overdose
of opioids is suspected.
Current arrangements:
As naloxone is used only in medical emergencies, the medicine is given by a doctor, paramedic or
nurse.
Central Statistics Office figures for the year’s 2007 to 2013 show that a total of 987 people have died
in Ireland during this period from narcotic overdose. (Data from the CSO for 2013 is provisional. Data
for 2014 is not yet available from the CSO).
The HSE has undertaken to develop and roll out a demonstration of the use of naloxone under the
current legislative framework in 2015. This is to facilitate the wider acceptance of the product and
its wider availability for the prevention of accidental opioid overdose.
Risks associated with misdiagnosis of opioid overdose and the inappropriate administration
of naloxone:
Naloxone must not be given to people with a known allergy to it. Naloxone must be given with
caution to patients who have received high doses of opioids or are physically dependent on opioids.
Too rapid reversal of the opioid effect can cause an acute withdrawal syndrome in such patients.
Other side effects that have been reported include hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiac
arrhythmias, pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) and cardiac arrest.
The following questionnaire applies to naloxone for the treatment of opioid overdose.
1|Page
QUESTIONS
Q1.
Please indicate in what capacity you are responding to this questionnaire








Q2.
(i)
(ii)
registered health professional
carer
patient organisation
family
patient
teacher
member of general public
other (please specify)
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
Have you or a member of your family or a person under your care ever needed to use
naloxone in an emergency?
Yes
☐
No
☐
If so, did you experience any difficulty in obtaining it?
Yes
☐
No
☐
If you answered yes please provide details of the difficulties you experienced:
2|Page
Q3.
(i)
Do you think the current arrangements for supply and administration of naloxone are
adequate?
Yes
☐
No
☐
(ii)
If No, in what way are they inadequate?
Q4.
Do you think non health professionals, for example social care workers, family members,
friends, carers or partners of people who use drugs who undertake appropriate training,
should be permitted to administer naloxone?
Q5.
Yes
☐
No
☐
Please tick the option you agree/disagree with from the following statements
(i)
Naloxone injections should be made more widely available to non-medical persons for
use in emergency situations
Agree
☐
Disagree
☐
(ii)
Naloxone injections should be available in
•
Drug Treatment Service Clinics
☐
•
Needle exchange sites
☐
•
Friends, family members, partners of drug users
☐
•
Other, please specify
3|Page
Q6.
What do you think would be the main benefits to having wider access to naloxone for
administration in emergency situations by appropriately trained non-medical persons who
have been authorised by an approved body / organisation?
Q7.
What do you think are the main disadvantages and / or safety concerns to widening the
availability of naloxone for administration by appropriately trained non-medical persons in
emergency situations?
Q8.
In your opinion is there sufficient information available for drug users, family members and
partners of drug users about opioid overdose?
Q9.
Yes
☐
No
☐
In your opinion is there sufficient information available for the general public about opioid
overdose?
Yes
☐
No
☐
Please save your answers and send to the following email address:
Medicines_Consultation@health.gov.ie
4|Page