Naloxone: Victoria’s rising death rate prompts calls to relax restrictions on overdose ‘antidote’

ABC news, Posted 13.12.16 at 5:11pm

The high rate of overdose deaths in Victoria has prompted calls for a change in regulations around overdose ‘antidote’ Naloxone.

Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioids like heroin and oxycodone but under Australian law it can only be dispensed over the counter by a doctor or pharmacist.

The stigma can mean some users avoid asking for the drug, despite the enormous rate of overdose deaths in Victoria every year, particularly in rural or regional areas.

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