By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A program which trains drug users, family and friends to use a drugs overdose antidote has saved at least 12 victims in Geelong.
Alcohol and other drugs worker Craig Harvey said the injection device, similar to an EpiPen auto injector for anaphylaxis, was saving lives.
Geelong was leading Victoria in prescribing Naloxone and training people in its use through Barwon Health’s drug and alcohol service, Mr Havey said.
“It’s only $6 for five syringes and it’s saving lives.
“I know of 12 reversals that have been reported directly to me but there will be others – there are certainly more than we are aware of.”
Mr Harvey said Barwon Health was an early adopter of the program and he had since trained 120 people in the use of Naloxone.
The Indy reported two weeks ago that Geelong had the highest frequency of drug overdose deaths in regional Victoria.
The Coroner’s Prevention Unit report revealed a concerning rise in heroin overdoses across the state, including Geelong.
Mr Harvey said Naloxone had been used in medical settings and by emergency services for a long time but was now available over the counter.
“Naloxone temporarily reverses an opioid overdose which is essentially respiratory arrest. It goes to the receptors in the brain and returns breathing to normal.
“The pre-filled syringe is injected intramuscularly and there is no abuse potential.
“It last from 30 to 90 minutes, often enough time to get someone to hospital and when it wears off the acuity of the overdose has passed.”
Mr Harvey said 70 per cent of overdoses occurred in presence of someone else.
“Addicts don’t use alone and people using drugs look after each other. It’s a resource not tapped into near enough,” he said.
“No one turns it down. Drug users do care about themselves and each other. Perceptions that drug users don’t care couldn’t be further from the truth.
“This way more people can be kept alive and maybe get the help they need to recover long-term.”
Mr Harvey said he had presented the program around Australia because of its significant impact.
