@article{ref1,
title="Heroin overdose resuscitation with naloxone: patient uses own prescribed supply to save the life of a peer",
journal="BMJ case reports",
year="2015",
author="Winston, Ian and McDonald, Rebecca and Tas, Basak and Strang, John",
volume="2015",
number="",
pages="2015-210391",
abstract="Opiate overdose is the primary cause of death among injection-drug users, representing a major public health concern worldwide. Opiate overdose can be reversed through timely administration of naloxone, and users have expressed willingness to carry the antidote for emergency use (take-home naloxone). In November 2014, new WHO guidelines identified that naloxone should be made available to anyone at risk of witnessing an overdose. We present the case of a 46-year-old man in opioid-maintenance treatment who used take-home naloxone to rescue an overdose victim. This is the first- ever account of a patient using dose titration of naloxone to restore respiratory function while minimising the risk of adverse effects. To improve the safety of take-home naloxone, the authors call for clinicians involved in the treatment of opiate users to: prescribe take-home naloxone to all patients; forewarn patients of potential side effects; and instruct patients in naloxone dose titration.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1757-790X",
doi="10.1136/bcr-2015-210391",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2015-210391"
}