Naloxone, a legal medication which can be used to reverse opioid overdoses, will be available at three pharmacies in the county – including one in Worcester – during a trial to widen access to this lifesaving tool.
Social justice and harm reduction charity Cranstoun is leading the pharmacy naloxone take-home project, which will run as a pilot for six to nine months.
The aim is to broaden access across Worcestershire to naloxone and raise awareness of overdose symptoms, as well as create valuable opportunities to support people who may not be in contact with specialist substance use services.
Matthew Burke, County Manager at Cranstoun Worcestershire, said: “We’re really proud to launch this pharmacy-based naloxone pilot within Worcestershire. By widening access to naloxone through community pharmacies, we can reach more people, in more places, at the moments when it matters most.
“This is a crucial step in reducing opioid-related harm locally, empowering individuals, families and communities with lifesaving knowledge and tools. Our thanks go to the participating pharmacies for their commitment to improving public health and helping to save lives.”
Three pharmacies are currently involved in the pilot scheme, with the potential for more to join as the trial progresses.
The current participating pharmacies are Pharmacy at Spring Gardens in Worcester, Knights Birmingham Road in Bromsgrove and Knights Winyates Pharmacy in Redditch.
Adults aged 18 and over who access Needle Syringe Programme or Supervised Consumption services at these locations will now be offered a naloxone take‑home kit if they are at risk of opioid overdose.
Participating pharmacies will provide the kit along with brief training covering how to recognise the signs of an opioid overdose, respond safely in an emergency and administer naloxone correctly.
Lisa Wootton, pharmacist at Pharmacy at Spring Gardens, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Cranstoun on this important pilot.
“By making naloxone available through community pharmacies, we can help ensure it is accessible at the point where it’s more likely needed most.”