Naloxone: Should we have it in the workplace?

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a drug used to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. It works by blocking drugs such as heroin and oxycodone from attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain. A very handy drug to have access to but should we also have it in the workplace?

Many would argue perhaps not but if we are to commit to workplace OH&S and advocate for life saving and expensive AEDs (automated external defibrillator) in the workplace, shouldn't we also prepare for all unlikely workplace incidents and introduce other life saving measures? The rise of insidious drugs such as opioid fentanyl that is used to cut even recreational drugs like speed, could lead to accidental overdoses in the workplace. So the question arises, even if we determine the risk to be low, should we introduce Naloxone as a duty of care, in keeping our workplaces safe at all times? And surely the cost of us as a community doing it, is exponentially less than the cost of us not?

Safety Sensitive Industries

Safety Sensitive industries such as transportation and construction have experienced both workplace drug harm practices and recreational drug use. Within the construction industry, an industry mainly populated by young males, patterns of drug abuse harm particularly cocaine is perpetuated by workplace culture. Transportation industries have long standing documented battles with drug abuse, amongst their mainly male workforce. So in the aim of transparency are we really willing to risk our workforce by burying our head in the sand, especially when we no longer need to?

The take home Naloxone pilot study

From December 2019 to February 2021 NSW ran a take home Naloxone pilot study for people who are likely to witness or experience an opioid drug overdose. This study proved so effective that in the budget for 2022-2023 the Australian Government announced it is investing $19.6 million over 4 years from 2022-23 to implement the Take Home Naloxone Program nationally. The life saving drug will be available in all Australian states and territories from 1 July 2022 at no cost and without a prescription to anyone who may experience, or witness, an opioid overdose or adverse reaction.

With that kind of federal commitment to drug harm prevention programs involving Naloxone, surely the next step is workplace health and safety measures and availability? The life saving drug will be available through approved providers and access sites from the 1st of July 2022.

Medinat provides a diverse range of urine and saliva testing kits for workplace testing programs, covering a broad range of drugs including opioids, fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone. Ask about our groundbreaking urine testing kit the Maxi Clear 15 urine drug test kit (15 drugs plus 6 adulterants testing kit) certified to AS4308:2008