A delivery service for a crucial overdose recovery kit was launched in drug and alcohol services in Wakefield on Monday by leading social enterprise, Turning Point.
Naloxone is a first aid medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
In England, anyone can carry a Naloxone kit and use it in an emergency to save a life. It is available from drug treatment providers and from some pharmacies, but accessing these locations is not always possible or easy.
The Wakefield Inspiring Recovery and Inspiring Futures Click & Deliver programme will see Naloxone kits being delivered to people at a location of their choice.
After filling out a short online form and completing an optional short training session, individuals receive a free Naloxone kit sent through the post in discreet packaging.
The Wakefield service supports over 2,500 residents from across the district, delivering a wide range of treatment methods including one-to-one recovery work sessions, recovery planning, harm reduction advice, needle exchange, group work programmes, open-access drop-ins, and prescribing clinics.
Turning Point recognised that there are people with mobility issues, or who live in rural areas where there is not a service nearby, and for some, particularly family members of people at risk of overdose, there is a fear of being stigmatised.
Whilst there are highly successful postal Naloxone services in both Scotland and Wales, Turning Point launched the first service in England with a pilot scheme at its Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service (SDAS), in August 2023, followed by launches in Herefordshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire in 2024.
The scheme has proved to be highly-successful and through 2025 the service has been rolled out across all Turning Point locations.
In April 2024, the Somerset service sent out their 100th naloxone kit, which went to a family member of someone at risk of an overdose.
To date, services have sent out almost 300 kits with at least six of these kits used to reverse an overdose and save lives.
Zita, a peer mentor at Turning Point, has had first-hand experience with naloxone.
“Naloxone is really important to me because not only has it been used to save my life, I have used it on others on four different occasions. I also know a number of people who have had their lives saved by of the use of naloxone."
“When naloxone is used on you, you’re sometimes not aware of what has happened or the impact it has had on you or others around you. But being the person administering it, you see the positive action and quick effect of a life-saving medication.”
On one occasion on her way home, Zita came across someone who had overdosed. She quickly took out the naloxone kit from her bag, assembled it as she had been shown and injected the person’s thigh. It took the five doses to bring her back round.
When the paramedics arrived, they said the naloxone had saved the person’s life. A minute later and the lack of oxygen could have caused permanent damage, if not death.
“It definitely made me realise the importance of always making sure that the yellow box is in my bag. I’ve needed to use it a number of times since.
“If someone was thinking about carrying naloxone, I would definitely encourage them to do so. Not only can it save a life, there’s also no damage done while using naloxone if the cause wasn’t opioid - so there are only positives to carrying it, no negatives. Please carry naloxone – you can save a life.”
Earlier this year, Turning Point launched a national video campaign to highlight the importance of carrying the life-saving medication naloxone.
Natalie Travis, Turning Point National Head of Service, said:
“With the increasing risk from potent synthetic opioids, it’s never been more important to make it as easy as possible for people to access naloxone.
“By removing the barriers experienced by some, Click & Deliver helps us raise awareness and make sure we’re getting naloxone into the hands of the people who need it.”
Joanne Rowe, Senior Operations Manager at Turning Point's Wakefield Inspiring Recovery and Inspiring Futures, said:
“The Click & Deliver service offers a discreet, convenient, and efficient way to distribute naloxone, ensuring that residents and professionals alike have the tools needed to protect vulnerable people in our community.
“In addition to our Click & Deliver service, we are also providing face to face training through our services.”