Number of units provided and outcomes

From 2018 to 2020, there were 8,881 units of naloxone supplied by the HSE National Social Inclusion Office to service providers (see Table 1). Overall, 59% of units were intramuscular, with 41% intranasal. The majority of naloxone was administered by service provider staff (94%), with 3% administered by peers, 2% by an unspecified individual, and 1% by a general practitioner or a nurse. Between 2018 and 2020, it was reported that naloxone was administered to 569 people. Of these, 98% survived the overdose, with 9 deaths. The number of people receiving naloxone has fluctuated, with a 13% increase experienced in 2020 compared with 2018 (see Table 2).

Table 1: Number of naloxone units supplied to service providers, 2018–2020

Table 2: Naloxone administration by outcome, 2018–2020

Profile of those receiving naloxone

Age and sex information was supplied for 79% and 91% of those receiving naloxone, respectively. Between 2018 and 2020, 61% of those receiving naloxone were male, with this proportion significantly increasing from 51% in 2018 to 75% in 2020. Seventy-one per cent were aged between 25 and 44 years, with an average age of 37.6 years.

Other findings

Other notable findings from the report include the following:

• Four areas of Dublin City (Dublin 7, Dublin 1, Dublin 8, and Dublin 2) accounted for over two-thirds (67%) of overdoses where naloxone was administered.
• Some 51% of those that had received naloxone were reported to have taken more than one substance, with 35% taking two substances.
• Some 62% of people were reported to have overdosed by injection. Over two-thirds (68%) of those that had taken heroin had injected.
• It is estimated that the naloxone programme has saved the lives of at least 22 people between 2018 and 2020.

Seán Millar

1. Evans D, Bingham T, Hamza S and Keenan E (2022) Naloxone administration by addiction and homeless service providers in Ireland: 2018–2020. Drug Insights Report 2. Dublin: HSE National Social Inclusion Office.
   https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/36455/