Trends in Australian attitudes towards the availability of take-home naloxone

Evidence from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21594748
AutoresAmy G McNeilage (0000-0001-7112-042X, The University of Sydney), Amanda Roxburgh (0000-0001-8609-0075, Burnet Institute), Suzanne Nielsen (0000-0001-5341-1055, Monash Health), Louisa Picco (0000-0001-7593-3209, Monash Health, autor correspondente)
Ano2026
Volume154
Páginas105354
Data de publicação2026-08-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Drug Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0955-3959 • E-ISSN: 1873-4758
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105354
PMID42242984
OpenAlexW7163561738
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas46

Take-home naloxone programs are an effective intervention for preventing opioid overdose deaths, yet little is known about public attitudes towards their availability at a population level. This study examined trends in Australian attitudes towards take-home naloxone, sociodemographic correlates of support, and jurisdictional differences, using data from the 2016 (N = 22,271), 2019 (N = 20,998), and 2022-23 (N = 20,251) National Drug Strategy Household Survey. In 2022-23, 41.8% of Australians supported the availability of take-home naloxone, 10.6% opposed it, 16.3% were ambivalent, and 31.3% reported insufficient knowledge to express a view. Support increased modestly over time, while opposition declined. Attitudes varied across sociodemographic groups, with more favourable views observed among younger respondents, those with higher educational attainment, those living in more socioeconomically advantaged areas, those who spoke English at home, residents of major cities, and those reporting recent illicit drug use. Uncertainty was particularly high among respondents aged 65 years and over and those who spoke a language other than English at home. Overall, findings indicate that take-home naloxone is not a highly polarising intervention in Australia, but rather one characterised by substantial uncertainty. While public support has strengthened alongside policy expansion, limited awareness remains a key barrier to broader community endorsement. Strengthening population-level understanding of naloxone, alongside targeted communication strategies for groups with lower awareness, may be critical to ensuring equitable access and sustained support for overdose prevention initiatives

Drug · MEDLINE · Poison control · Suicide prevention · Survey data collection · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Survey Methodology and Nonresponse