Cork Hospital Launches Life-Saving Naloxone Programme for Overdose Victims
CUH pilot gives naloxone directly to overdose victims who refuse hospital transport, ensuring life-saving medication reaches those who need it most.
A groundbreaking initiative from Cork University Hospital will provide take-home naloxone packs to people who have experienced an opioid overdose but refuse hospital transport, potentially saving lives across the county.
The HSE NAS Alternative Prehospital Pathway (APP) programme, launching ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August, represents a crucial intervention for Cork's most vulnerable residents. Led by Cork University Hospital Emergency Medicine Doctor Dr Daragh Mathews, the pilot scheme ensures that naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, reaches those who need it most.
The programme addresses a critical gap in emergency care. When someone experiences an overdose but declines ambulance transport to hospital, they remain at high risk of another potentially fatal incident. The APP team, which includes a doctor who can provide naloxone directly at the scene, offers these individuals a vital safety net.
Last year's figures underscore the scale of the challenge: the HSE supplied 6,944 naloxone units nationwide and trained 2,330 people in overdose awareness and administration. The medication forms part of an integrated approach to reducing drug harm under the National Drugs Strategy.
Dr Daragh Mathews, Emergency Medicine Doctor and NCHD Lead for the APP Project at Cork University Hospital:
"This new service can save lives by getting naloxone into the hands of people who need it most, when it's needed. For someone who has just experienced an overdose, even if they choose not to go to hospital, a witness having access to naloxone could mean a vital second chance."
The Cork-based pilot has garnered national support, with implications for potential expansion across Ireland if successful.
Prof Eamon Keenan, National Clinical Lead for HSE Addiction Services:
"I welcome and support this new APP Take Home Naloxone pilot. It will improve access to naloxone for people who use drugs in the community, and this is a key factor in reducing overdose deaths in our society. I congratulate Dr Daragh Mathews on his work to establish this and look forward to the results of the pilot. If successful, this has the potential to be rolled out in other areas."
Naloxone works by rapidly reversing the effects of opioid drugs, including heroin and prescription painkillers, restoring normal breathing within minutes. The medication can keep someone alive until emergency services arrive, making it particularly valuable for friends and family members of people at risk.
The timing of the programme launch coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day on Sunday, drawing attention to a public health crisis that affects communities across Cork and beyond. The initiative represents a pragmatic approach to harm reduction, acknowledging that not all overdose victims will accept traditional hospital care whilst ensuring they still receive potentially life-saving intervention.
For Cork residents concerned about overdose risks, the HSE provides comprehensive information about naloxone access and training through their dedicated naloxone resource page.
