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  6. Take Home Naloxone in acute setting to individuals at risk of future opiate overdose (392)

Take Home Naloxone in acute setting to individuals at risk of future opiate overdose (392)

A guideline is intended to assist healthcare professionals in the choice of disease-specific treatments.

Clinical judgement should be exercised on the applicability of any guideline, influenced by individual patient characteristics. Clinicians should be mindful of the potential for harmful polypharmacy and increased susceptibility to adverse drug reactions in patients with multiple morbidities or frailty.

If, after discussion with the patient or carer, there are good reasons for not following a guideline, it is good practice to record these and communicate them to others involved in the care of the patient.

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Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 02/10/2025

Next review date: 31/08/2028

Author(s): Debbie Thomson.

Version: 4

Approved By: Medicines Utilisation Subcommittee of ADTC

Document Id: 392

References

1. Rights, Respect and Recovery: alcohol and drug strategy, Scottish Government, 2018 https://www.gov.scot/publications/rights-respect-recovery/

2. Scotland’s public health priorities, Scottish Government, 2018. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-public-healthpriorities/

3. Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2023, National Records of Scotland. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-in-2023/

4. The National Drug-Related Deaths Database (Scotland) Report. Analysis of Deaths Registered in 2019 and 2020. PHS  https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/29629/2024-10-08_ndrdd_report.pdf

5. Prevalence of Problem Drug Use in Scotland. 2015/16 Estimates. NHS National Services Scotland, Information Services Division. Published March 2019.

6. National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report 2021/22 and 2022/23, PHS.. https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-naloxone-programme-scotland-annual/national-naloxone-programme-scotland-monitoring-report-202122-and-202223/

7. Merrall E., Bird S., Hutchinson S. A record-linkage study of drug-related death and suicide after hospital discharge among drugtreatment clients in Scotland, 1996-2006. Addiction 2012; 108: 377-384.

8. Darke S., Williamson A., Ross J.,Mills K., Havard A., Teesson M. Patterns of Nonfatal Heroin Overdose over a 3-year Period:

Findings From the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. J Urban Health. March 2007; 84(2): 283-291