Summary
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, and in conjunction with the Department of Health NI in relation to Northern Ireland (pursuant to Section 45(1) of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021), is seeking views on the proposal to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand the number of services, professionals or organisations that are able to supply naloxone without a prescription – a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and therefore can help to prevent overdose deaths.
Consultation description
This follows on from a consultation held in 2021. Since this consultation was held, there have been a number of changes to the drugs landscape. These proposals are being considered as a matter of public health and safety in the United Kingdom. Drug misuse deaths have doubled since 2012, and the impact of synthetic opioids on opioid related deaths is yet to be fully understood.
The consultation will run for 6 weeks, and will close on the 6 March 2024.
The consultation document can accessed via the .gov.uk website.
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.