Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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633. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered the provision of prefilled naloxone injections as a means of making provision to save the lives of persons suffering from an opiate drug overdose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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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. Naloxone is an anti-dote used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone, if someone overdoses.

I launched an Evaluation Report on the HSE’s Naloxone Demonstration Project in August 2016. The Project involved 600 patients receiving take-home Naloxone and the provision of training to lay persons, such as the family and friends of a drug user, in the administration of a Naloxone injection to overdose victims. I was delighted to note that during the course of the demonstration project there were five potentially fatal overdoses prevented for the individuals involved. I am convinced that many more lives will be saved as a result of this initiative.

I understand that the HSE is working to implement the key recommendations of the Evaluation Report to inform the on-going development of the Naloxone programme.