The life-saving naloxone nasal spray is a harmless and effective antidote to heroin overdose. But the law prevents everyone who needs access to it. – As a relative, I would have liked to have the medicine at home, says nurse Elin Holmén to TV4 Nyheterna. The nasal spray has been available in Sweden since 2018. But naloxone requires a prescription and today it is only permitted to prescribe it to people who themselves risk an overdose of opioids such as morphine, heroin, fentanyl and tramadol. The crux is that the person who overdoses rarely has time to react before it is too late and that is why others around need to have the naloxone pack. “Completely harmless” For several years, it has been argued in Sweden that the right should be extended so that, for example, certain professional groups such as police and security guards, or relatives of heroin users should be able to have naloxone available. But despite investigations and strong requests from both healthcare and authorities, no solution has been reached. The hope now rests on a report that the National Board of Health and Welfare makes on behalf of the government. It will be presented on March 31. Elin Holmén, psychiatric nurse at the Addiction Center in Stockholm, hopes for a positive message: – I think that if I were a relative of someone who uses opioids, I would definitely want to have this drug at home. It is still a completely harmless medicine, she tells TV4 Nyheterna. See an interview with Elin Holmén in the clip above.
t4-general
The law stops life-saving nasal spray: “Completely harmless medicine”
