Since the late 1990s, Australia has experienced increasing number of opioid overdose hospital admissions and deaths. One response has been the implementation of take-home naloxone initiatives, which involve providing naloxone (a drug used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioid overdose) and training to those most likely to encounter overdose. Despite its life-saving potential, the administration of naloxone can precipitate opioid withdrawal sensations, an experience associated with a range of undesirable outcomes such as nausea, body aches, shivering, confusion, irritability, anger and restlessness. Naloxone’s potential for producing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms has also been linked to distress, aggression and occasionally violence during revival from overdose. Importantly, while research suggests that gender can shape engagement with harm reduction initiatives, these issues have only been fleetingly acknowledged in research on take-home naloxone.

This qualitative study investigated women’s concerns around take-home naloxone, including conflict. In doing so, it developed new knowledge to increase naloxone uptake in ways that support women’s safety. The researchers conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with women who were current consumers of opioids and who had accessed take-home naloxone in the last 12 months. This study examined women’s perspectives of take-home naloxone and identified several barriers for women engaging with the initiative which informed a broadsheet and an overdose prevention resource.

Project team

Chief investigators

Nyssa Ferguson, Department of Public Health, La Trobe University

Adrian Farrugia, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University

Project staff

Andrew Whalley, Department of Public Health, La Trobe University

Publications

Ferguson, N., Farrugia, A. & Whalley A. (2024) Understanding women’s perspectives on take-home naloxone to support equitable overdose prevention efforts. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University. ISBN: 978-0-6458786-2-2