Expanding access to naloxone: A campaign win!

Chris Hartley celebrates the success of the Army’s campaign to get naloxone to people who need it.

Each one of us is made in the image of God and, therefore, we are all deserving of safety, dignity and hope. That belief has guided The Salvation Army’s long-running campaign to expand access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that temporarily reverses opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of the opioid taken. Available as a nasal spray or injection, it can allow enough time for emergency services to arrive.

Thanks to the hard work and prayers of Salvationists and supporters, the Public Affairs Unit is celebrating a significant step forward. Just before Christmas, the UK government published its promised Homelessness Strategy for England. While much of the media coverage focused on the commitment to increase affordable housing – something The Salvation Army has also long called for – hidden within the document was a major win: a commitment to consult on widening the availability of naloxone in the UK.

This is a real breakthrough on an issue we have been raising awareness about for several years. We have been campaigning on this issue because we believe that every life matters to God, and so these lives must matter to us. Ephesians 2:10 says: ‘We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’

Naloxone saves lives – there is no question about this. We know from first-hand experience that its timely administration can make all the difference. But behind each statistic is a human life – a parent, child or friend restored to life with the possibility of recovery. These moments of grace are made possible by medication that costs as little as a cup of coffee or tea.

Tragically, 18 people still die from drugs every day in the UK, and more than half of these deaths involve opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl. This is a hidden crisis and many of those most affected are vulnerable people. It’s for these reasons that we believe widening access to naloxone is not just a medical intervention – it’s an act of Christlike compassion.

The government has now published its consultation, which will ask for feedback on a number of options, including making naloxone available in lockboxes in a similar way to defibrillators. The Salvation Army will respond robustly to the consultation to call for naloxone to be available to everyone who needs it. A consultation alone won’t save a life, but it is a step in the right direction, and it’s a win worth celebrating.

Until this commitment becomes action, we will continue to keep the pressure on the government to ensure they do not forget this life-saving issue. Later this year, we will be bringing together businesses, charities and public sector leaders for a summit to build momentum for expanding naloxone access – we’ll share more information soon about how you can support this project.

In the meantime, you can still make a difference. One of the MPs we have been speaking with, Adam Dance, has tabled a motion highlighting the importance of naloxone and calling on the government to ensure its availability in key public locations. So far, 77 MPs have added their names to this motion. Ask your MP to support the parliamentary motion too – it only takes a moment and your voice could make all the difference.

Reflect and respond

• Read Ephesians 2:10. How is engaging politicians part of us doing God’s good work in the world?
• Pray for compassion in society’s response to drug-linked deaths.
• Consider contacting your MP with a prepared template email.