The UK government has unveiled plans to dramatically widen access to naloxone, the emergency medication that reverses opioid overdoses, in a move ministers say could save hundreds of lives as synthetic opioids drive a surge in drug‑related deaths.
A new 10‑week consultation proposes allowing naloxone to be supplied far more widely, including through homeless shelters, outreach teams, emergency responders and newly created public access points. The proposals come amid mounting concern over potent synthetic opioids such as nitazenes, linked to a sharp rise in fatalities.
The initiative forms a central pillar of the government’s long‑term strategy to tackle drug and alcohol misuse, backed by a record £3.4 billion investment through 2029. Drug‑related deaths in England and Wales have doubled since 2012, reaching 5,565 last year—an all‑time high.
Under the consultation, ministers are seeking views on regulatory changes that would:
- Enable homeless hostels, day centres and rough‑sleeping outreach services to supply naloxone
- Allow emergency staff in agencies such as Border Force, the National Crime Agency and laboratory testing facilities to carry the medication
- Introduce publicly accessible naloxone boxes—similar to defibrillator cabinets—in high‑risk areas including high streets and nightlife districts
Naloxone remains a prescription‑only medicine, but legislation introduced in December 2024 already expanded the list of professionals permitted to provide take‑home kits, including police, paramedics and probation workers. The latest proposals aim to remove remaining barriers by working closely with local authorities and homelessness organisations.
The urgency is underscored by the rapid rise in deaths involving nitazenes, which increased from 52 in 2023 to 195 in 2024. Following earlier reforms, the government set a target to prevent nearly 1,000 drug‑related deaths in England by the end of 2025.
Most local authorities are expected to receive increased funding, with additional support directed to areas with high levels of need and communities supporting people sleeping rough.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said the expansion was essential to reducing preventable deaths. “Every drug death is a preventable tragedy. Naloxone is a safe, effective medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and give someone the chance to access treatment and rebuild their lives,” she said, adding that the consultation aims to ensure “those coming in contact with opioids through their work—or members of the public faced with an emergency—can save a life.”
The naloxone proposals sit alongside a broader shift toward prevention. In October 2025, the government launched a national public health campaign warning young people about the risks of ketamine, counterfeit medicines, synthetic opioids and THC vapes, following a rise in drug‑related harms among 16–24‑year‑olds.
The consultation is being run jointly with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and has the backing of all four UK nations, following agreement at the UK Drugs Ministerial Group that expanding naloxone access is a shared priority.
Subject to the outcome of the consultation and Parliamentary approval, the government intends to introduce the new legislation in 2026 through amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
