Immediate Response Pathway for Non-fatal Overdose
There is strong evidence to show that fatal overdoses often follow near-fatal ones. Intervention and providing support as quickly as possible after a near-fatal overdose is therefore a clear way of avoiding or reducing the risk of a fatal overdose. The Taskforce identified bringing a greater consistency and focus on how this at-risk group can be best treated as an opportunity to reduce drug-related deaths in Scotland.
The Taskforce promoted collaboration and information-sharing protocols between multiple agencies when reviewing near-fatal overdose cases. In hospital settings a key goal will be to ensure a drug liaison service or response pathway is in place quickly following discharge.
Whilst we would obviously want to avoid the near-miss almost as much as a fatal overdose, multiple agencies responding to it in a properly co-ordinated way can transform these into an opportunity to reduce further harm and avoid a drug-related death in the future.
Our final recommendations
Our final report was broken down into 4 chapters.
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