The implementation of take-home naloxone: Lessons learned from a 3-year take-home naloxone project in Germany.

BACKGROUND

Take-home naloxone (THN) can prevent deaths related to opioid overdoses. Despite the first THN project in Germany in 1998, the availability of naloxone for people who use opioids (PWUO) is still scarce. We present the results of the German-wide THN-project NALtrain, which aimed to implement THN nationwide. Firstly, we present data collected during NALtrain and secondly, we use this data to critically reflect on the project and thereby draw conclusions that could inform future THN projects.

METHOD

NALtrain was conducted between July 2021 and June 2024. Descriptive statistical analysis of the documentation of 74 train-the-trainer events and following naloxone trainings conducted by the trained staff were carried out.

RESULTS

864 staff members from approximately 373 organizations (mainly harm reduction services) participated in 74 train-the-trainer courses. Of the 373 organizations 123 conducted 784 naloxone trainings for PWUO and reached 2,333 PWUO, of whom 1,451 received THN. The goal of training 800 staff members was met, while the goals of reaching 400 organizations and 10,000 PWUO were missed. The implementation of THN is unevenly distributed across the German federal states, especially concentrated in Bavaria. The core learnings are that the prescription-only status of THN leads to extra organizational efforts and hinders the availability of THN for individuals with the highest risk of overdose.

CONCLUSION

Considering the proportion of organizations offering THN, they can still be classified as "early adopters". These may serve as role models for the broader majority. Free available THN and centrally coordinated support of implementation including recurring follow-up can be key to a broader availability of THN in Germany. In future initiatives physicians and medical settings should be prioritized.