Burnet Institute research into the anti-opioid medication naloxone will benefit from $100,000 in Federal Government funding announced today. The funding is part of a $7.2 million commitment over two years to pilot a take-home naloxone (THN) program in Australia.
In partnership with the States and Territories, a THN program will expand the availability of naloxone to a range of additional settings frequently accessed by at-risk groups.
The Burnet research will be undertaken concurrently to the pilot with the National Drug Research Institute into the key principles and features of a nationally consistent THN model in Australia.
He said the research would help to address a significant and growing problem.
“Direct support from the Commonwealth for expanding access to naloxone is an important step in responding to opioid overdose in Australia, which is now at levels not seen since the heroin glut of the late 1990s,” Professor Dietze said.
The THN initiative was announced alongside a broader package of funding to address alcohol and drug misuse.
The Federal Government has allocated $268 million over three years to Primary Health Networks, providers of residential and non-residential withdrawal management and rehabilitation programs, alcohol and peak drug organisations, to meet the needs of communities and individuals.
Burnet Program Director, Behaviours and Health Risks, Professor Paul Dietze said the findings of this research would complement the 'on the ground' findings of the pilot, which will enable the THN model to be refined in a national rollout.