A review completed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has acknowledged its ability to save lives and has now said there should be more availability for prison leavers.

Prison services need to ensure leavers who at high-risk of overdosing have access to naloxone the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has said. 

The review said that the current supply of take-home naloxone is “fragmented” and that only a small proportion of opioid dependent prison leavers are provided with it - 12 per cent of prison leavers in England who have been identified as having a problem with opioids take home naloxone.  

The Council has called for “complete coverage of take-home naloxone” by prisons across the UK. 

Research suggests that there is an increased risk of drug related death for prison leavers for up to four weeks after release - primarily due to reduced tolerance during imprisonment. 

Meanwhile, they have also pushed for additional training for the police regarding holding and administration of the substance, saying that services should register for the necessary exemptions to be able to supply Naloxone. 

In February, Police Scotland reported that 53 drug deaths had been prevented by officers carrying Naloxone. It was part of a national trial project beginning last year. 

Meanwhile, the THN (Take Home Naloxone) programme in Wales is funded by government and available through substance use services, criminal justice services, prisons and first responders. 

Of all four nations, England is currently the only which does not have a specific funded national naloxone programme - funding is currently provided by local authorities, the third sector and NHS providers. 

Several police forces across the UK also have police pilot programmes delivering intranasal naloxone rather than intramuscular. 

The government has previously refused to grant exemptions to drugs legislation around the safe consumption facilities.

ACMD chair Professor Owen Bowden-Jones said: “We are pleased to share [...] our findings on take-home naloxone. Naloxone is a life-saving medication and it is crucial that it is easily available to people at risk. Only a national, cross-sector approach will achieve this.

“We look forward to the Government response to this report and our findings.”