Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction on preventing opiod deaths with take-home naloxone; his views on its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13861/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction on preventing opiod deaths with take-home naloxone. The report examines the case for distributing Naloxone, which is an antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone if someone overdoses.

In May 2015, the HSE undertook a demonstration project to assess and evaluate the suitability and impact of using a pre-filled Naloxone injection which is designed for non-medical administration in Ireland. The HSE made naloxone available for prescription and supply to opioid drug users under an initiative aimed at reducing drug-related deaths and near-fatal drug overdoses. There are four locations participating in the project including Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. The Irish Prison service is also participating. The overall objective of the project was to make naloxone more widely available for opioid drug users.

The project involved 600 opiate users receiving take-home naloxone on prescription. It also included those recently released from custody who have been identified as at high risk of opioid overdose. These drug users and those close to them have been trained on how to administer naloxone and to recognise the signs of an overdose.

The HSE has advised that an evaluation of the demonstration project is due to be completed shortly and a national implementation plan is currently being developed.