Understanding the impediments to uptake and diffusion of take-home naloxone in Australia: Summary report of project publications and recommendations.

The term ‘take-home naloxone’ refers to a variety of life-saving initiatives in which a medication (naloxone) is made available to non-medically trained people for administration to others experiencing an opioid overdose. Despite a range of efforts to expand these initiatives over the last eight years, the uptake of take-home naloxone in Australia remains inconsistent. This seminar will launch the final report of an Australian Research Council-funded qualitative study investigating impediments to the uptake of take-home naloxone in Australia. Between 2017-2019, interviews were conducted with people who consume opioids in NSW and Victoria, some of whom had experience of using take-home naloxone, as well as relevant health professionals. These interviews gathered insights on perspectives on and experiences of naloxone, and broader issues shaping the uptake and diffusion of take-home naloxone in Australia. The report emphasises that, while participants across all groups viewed take-home naloxone as necessary and effective, it needs to be supported by broader social, institutional and legal shifts. In addition, initiatives are urgently needed to de-stigmatise opioid overdose.