Services Database Take home naloxone (Waltham Forest)

Service Outline

• Take home naloxone provision is available to all presenting adults (aged 18 and over) who attend for either needle exchange services or supervised consumption of their opiate substitute medication. Young people under 18 years old should be sign-posted to the local specialised Young People’s Service.
• Identify suitable service users and supply naloxone injection in the form of a Prenoxad kit through engagement in the pharmacy, particularly those accessing needle exchange and/or opioid substitution therapy, informing clients about harm reduction and the benefits of carrying a naloxone Injection.
• All service users in contact with opioids are to be offered training in recognising the symptoms of opioid overdose, how to respond appropriately and how to administer naloxone (see Appendix 1). The training is not time consuming.
• The naloxone and overdose training can be delivered by any member of the pharmacy team who has been appropriately trained and has been deemed competent to do so by the pharmacist in charge. Once completed, a take-home naloxone kit may be issued to the service user.
• The pharmacy will provide support and advice to the user, including referral to other health and social care professionals and specialist drug treatment services where appropriate.

The accredited pharmacist and support staff must complete the SMMGP e-learning module  “NaloxoneSavesLives”available at or have attended a

• training and accreditation event organised by CGL before commencing the service. The manager will be required to keep a record and evidence of appropriately trained staff.
• For all services the CPPE courses “Substance Use and Misuse” (Modules 1 – 4) and “Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults” must be completed. The completion certificate for this must be no more than three years old.
• Pharmacist and support staff must have received the required training before the service can be delivered. Take home naloxone can only be provided once training has been given to a service user by a suitably trained member of staff.
• The training requirements must be met within three months of joining the service and updated every three years.
• The lead pharmacists will be responsible for identifying staff training needs and for recording their own Continuing Professional Development, and cascading training to all staff where appropriate