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Take home naloxone (THN) programs have been expanded to help reduce the opioid overdose-related deaths. A study was done in Australia to characterize a cohort of heroin overdose deaths to examine if there was an opportunity for a bystander to intervene at the time of fatal overdose.
235 heroin-overdose deaths were investigated during a 2 year study period in Victoria, Australia.
- 79% (n=186) of fatality occurred at a private residence
- 83% (n=192) of the decedents were alone at the time of the fatal overdose
- In 34 cases, decedent was with someone else.
- Half of these witnesses were also significantly impaired at the time of the fatal overdose.
- The opportunity for intervention by a bystander was present in only 19 cases.
Conclusion
- There was no witness or bystander in majority of overdose deaths.
- THN alone may only lead to modest reduction in fatal heroin overdose.
References
Stam NC et al. Challenges with take-home naloxone in reducing heroin mortality: a review of fatal heroin overdose cases in Victoria, Australia. Clin Toxicol 2018 Nov 17:1-6. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2018.1529319. [Epub ahead of print]