Distributing Naloxone by Any Means Necessary!
AFTERWORD DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE EURONPUD PEER TO PEER NALOXONE TECHNICAL GUIDE, BY JOHN MELHUS:
We are living in a time with changes that affect drug consumption, drug markets and people who use drugs: Restrictions created by global Pandemics, conflict in Europe, an unsure situation in Afghanistan where the authorities are pushing to eradicate the opium trade as well as the rising possibility of synthetic opioids entering the market in Europe. We also see signs of drug supplies being contaminated with synthetic opioids like Nitazenes. These are all indicators that we should be prepared for even more change.
EuroNPUD Would Therefore Like To Ask For Health Services To Stay Alert And Help Ensure A Comprehensive Approach:
This is not the time to reduce services for people who use drugs, it is the time to consider expanding medicines on OAT, ensuring that people are on the OAT dose they feel comfortable with, maybe even lower the threshold for entering OAT programmes, ensure that people can avoid using alone, encourage implementation of safe consumption spaces (also referred to as overdose prevention centers or drug consumption rooms) & drug analysis, ensure housing and quality of life and everything else that can reduce harm and enable people to live their lives to their fullest potential.