Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish a consultation on access to naloxone.

Naloxone is a lifesaving medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, including highly potent synthetic opioids which are growing in prevalence in the United Kingdom. It is more important than ever to increase access to naloxone products, which will save lives.

In 2024, the Department amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone. The legislation enabled more services and professionals to supply this medication, making it easier to access for people at risk, and for their loved ones.

Since then, the Government has launched a ten-week UK-wide public consultation on further legislative options to expand access to take-home and emergency use naloxone.

This a central part of the government’s comprehensive approach to drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery, supported by £3.4 billion of funding delivered through the Public Health Grant over the next three years.

The Department has also published guidance, Supplying take home naloxone without a prescription, that sets out essential practical information such as who can supply naloxone, the products available, how to use naloxone and other basic lifesaving tools, and the training required. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplying-take-home-naloxone-without-a-prescription