‘Together We Can’ – International Overdose Awareness Day 2024
Both our prison and community substance misuse teams at Forward Trust are doing fantastic work to support people at most risk from overdose.
This global event also gives us an opportunity to acknowledge dear friends and members of our community who have died or suffered permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
The theme for this year is ‘Together We Can’… and we must all work together more than ever to end overdose in our community.
Data published by the Office of National Statistics in June this year revealed that mortality rates for drug-related deaths has continued to increase in England and Wales. Under the avoidable mortality definition, drug-related deaths are all considered preventable.
The publication of these statistics come at a time when we are seeing more dangerous drugs such as nitizenes entering supply chains and increased levels of drug and alcohol addiction post pandemic, this catastrophic public health crisis is not making the headlines it should be.
But, we know that there are public health measures that can help reduce overdose death risks such as accessible and accurate safety advice, harm reduction services, and offering people living with addiction a practical way out.
Naloxone
Naloxone is an effective, cheap and easy to administer drug that can save lives by reversing the reduced breathing rate caused by an opioid overdose and thus preventing death.
Earlier this year, the government issued plans to update legislation to enable more professionals to provide take-home supplies of Naloxone to save lives.
The legislative change means the medicine can be given to a family member, friend or support worker of a person who is known to be using opiates to use in the event of an overdose.
If we put Naloxone in the right hands, the greater the likelihood that we can save lives.
However, evidence suggests that many of those who die from a fatal overdose from heroin and other illicit opioids had previously experienced a non-fatal overdose, some on multiple occasions. There are critical moments associated with fatal drug poisoning but opportunities to identify people at high risk are being missed.
Increased access to life-saving Naloxone an important step – but alone it will not stem the tide.
The Forward Trust believes that we need;
- A national public health campaign to alert drug users (and wider public) on the rise of synthetic opiates in UK drug supply.
- Accessible and simple ways to check drugs for synthetic opiates, through drug checking services in healthcare settings, in the nighttime economy and core community settings.
- Accelerated data collection, and rapid testing/screening across the UK on any suspected overdose that results in naloxone treatment, or any suspected overdose death – triggering urgent public health response in local areas.
- Continued and increased access to drug treatment and recovery support services – demonstrating to people in a cycle of addiction that another way is possible.
Addiction needs to be treated as the serious mental health condition that it is. We must challenge the stigma and get better access to support so that recovery can be possible for everyone.
Perceptions of addiction need to change. We need to build compassion and understanding around addiction and support people to ask for help without judgement, discrimination or stigma.
Support:
Currently there is no coordinated UK wide drug testing service, but the WEDINOS project tests substances to give individual users and others rapid and accurate information to reduce harms. https://www.wedinos.org/
The Loop is providing the drug checking service in Bristol and at selected festivals and events https://wearetheloop.org/about-drug-checking
Addiction can happen to anyone at any point in life. It is nothing to be ashamed of and getting help – whether it’s for you or a loved one – can save and transform your life.
Find out where you can get support https://www.forwardtrust.org.uk/support-type/drug-alcohol-support/