To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is (a) sponsoring, (b) supporting or (c) aware of regarding the effects of the naloxone programme and when it will report on the benefits that are expected from the roll-out of the programme.
(a) and (b)
The National Naloxone Take Home programme is supported by a national monitoring programme led by NHS Information Services Division (ISD) which began nationally on the 1 June 2011. The impact of the programme will be measured using a baseline and the scope and reach of the programme will be measured by asking services to complete a minimum dataset each time a supply of naloxone is made. This will provide data, including the number of kits being issued to individuals. Data on kits issued as a result of Scotland’s naloxone programme is planned to be published in July 2012 which will cover the period April 2011 to March 2012.
The national drug related deaths database will also report (from 2014 onwards) on the availability and administration of Naloxone across Scotland.
Advice is also being sought from the National Naloxone Advisory Group on potential options for qualitative research exploring the use of naloxone, which will be supported by the Scottish Government.
(c)
The roll out of the National Naloxone programme followed successful local pilots in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Highlands and recommendations from the National Forum on Drug Related Deaths. To make sure that the programme is firmly based on evidence and driven by independent experts the National Naloxone Advisory Group was set up to steer the development of the programme. Representatives include: the prison service, NHS Health Scotland, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, NHS health boards, treatment services, the police, families and people in recovery. National guidance for the programme was drafted and agreed by the National Forum on Drug Related Deaths (NFDRD) and sent to all alcohol and drug partnerships and Health boards.
The following studies on the use of naloxone in the UK and in the United States have been undertaken:
The American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Community-Based Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs Providing Naloxone, United States, 2010.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6106a1.htm.
The National Treatment Agency, Overdose and Naloxone Training Programme for Families and Carers, UK, 2011.
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/naloxonereport2011.pdf.
UK Department of Health, Naloxone Investigation (N-ALIVE) Naloxone Randomised Pilot Trial in UK Prisons, 2011.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_124595.pdf.
Welsh Government, The Take Home Naloxone (THN) scheme in Wales, 2009.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 March 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on (a) rolling out the naloxone programme and (b) removing the barriers to supplying families of drug misusers with the necessary kits and training.
Answer
The Scottish Government officially launched the national take home naloxone programme in Scottish Prisons on 1 February 2011 and nationally on 1 June 2011.
We are supporting the roll out with an investment of £1 million from 2010-11 to 2012-13, to provide central resources including: specific support to the Scottish Prison Service, a national naloxone training resource and information materials, reimbursement to health boards for kits and a national monitoring programme. The programme is progressing well, with local programmes being developed in 29 of the 30 alcohol and drug partnership areas and all prisons.
Funding has been provided to health boards for approximately 2,500 kits in 2010-11 and 6,000 kits in 2011-12, as well as funding to Scottish Prison Service for approximately 5,000 kits up to 31 October 2011 (when Health and Addictions Services were transferred to NHS health boards). It is planned that the national monitoring and evaluation programme led by NHS Information Services Division (ISD) will publish data on the number of kits issued as a result of the naloxone programme in July 2012, covering the period April 2011 to March 2012.
It is the intention of the programme to have as wide a reach as is possible and appropriate. Under the national programme, naloxone can be provided to those deemed to be at risk of opiate overdose, staff in the sector working with individuals at risk and friend/carers (provided consent is given by the person at risk) once they have undergone training. The National Naloxone Advisory Group membership includes individuals in recovery and a representative of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, to ensure the views of families and friends of those at risk of opiate overdose are heard.
Development of local capacity to deliver training is underpinned by the national naloxone training resource, which offers awareness raising and training sessions. Sessions have been delivered across Scotland to specialist and non-specialist health services, as well as police forces, prisons, homeless services, carer organisations, family and community groups and to Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland inspectors to ensure wider awareness of the crucial role of naloxone in reducing drug-related deaths in Scotland. This work will continue in 2012-13.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 March 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that naloxone kits can be easily replaced.
Answer
In 2012-13 the National Naloxone programme will be further developed and expanded. National training and awareness sessions will continue to be offered to specialist and non-specialist health services and also more widely to police forces, prisons, homeless services, carer organisations, and others. A national training website will be developed, offering access to information and training resources, including a national directory of services, to enable public and professionals in the sector to search for training activity in their local area. This will ensure that anyone who needs a kit issued or reissued can do so easily and quickly.
The Scottish Government is reimbursing health boards for kits. Reimbursement is not limited to one kit per person.
Licensing of medicines is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and is reserved to the UK government. The senior naloxone co-ordinator, has been in regular discussion with the MHRA to discuss the possibility of licensing an “off-the-shelf” naloxone kit. This would make Naloxone kits more widely available in pharmacies across the UK.
For more information on how many naloxone kits have been issued on average to individuals as part of the national naloxone programme refer to the answer to question S4W-06115 on 21 March 2012.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 March 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on young people being placed on unpaid work placements and the impact of this on long-term youth unemployment in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government believes that meaningful high-quality work experience which equips young people with the skills and experience to enter the labour market is one of a range of interventions that can help increase youth employment levels. In order to maximise the value of such an approach it is essential that employers and trade unions are consulted on the design of any such scheme. It is for the managing organisation and employer to ensure that young people are not exploited through work experience schemes.
The United Kingdom Government need to be vigilant about possible displacement in the labour market or potential exploitation of our young people in their work experience programme. We cannot have employers taking on young people for work experience at the expense of paid employment or our young people being pressed to work for no pay.
In that regard, we welcome the decision by Chris Grayling last week to withdraw the threat of benefit sanctions for young people leaving work experience placements early.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 March 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the so-called workfare programme that has been introduced by the UK Government and its impact on unemployment in Scotland.
Answer
DWP’s Mandatory Work Activity programme is reserved and a matter entirely for the UK Government. There is no published evidence on outcomes from the scheme so it is impossible to determine the impact this programme in isolation will make on long-term unemployment.
