Tackling Stigma with Naloxone Peer Education Jason Wallace National Naloxone Training and Support Officer

Naloxone Peer Education Scotland World Leading First fully funded National Programme supported by Scottish Government First ever community take home naloxone pack Naloxone Peer Education is a unique programme to increase the awareness and provision of naloxone to people at risk of opioid overdose

Training Drug awareness (1 day) Naloxone T4T (2 days) Theory/Practical (1 day) 6 x monthly meetings supported by National Naloxone Training and Support Officer Naloxone Peer Education in Scotland

14 Community Networks Across 7 Health Boards Network within HMP Edinburgh/HMP Addiewell 105 Peer Educators Trained Over 500 People Trained by Peer Educators 300+ Supplied with Naloxone

ull Good Partnership Working Examples Working in local community addiction teams Working with community pharmacies Representation on local naloxone steering groups Attending the NVFDRD Delivering training in 3 rd sector residential/community based programmes Delivering group/brief interventions in supported accommodation

ull Why use Peers? Peer Education empowers individuals to be in control of their own lives. Peers encourage an open and honest discussion around drug use and associated risks. Peers speak the same language as target group. Peer Education builds on the strengths of individuals knowledge and experience of using drugs. Peer education helps build confidence, self esteem, communication skills.

Equality The principle of equality in Peer education highlights the significant difference and alternatives to the traditional client-provider model. Peer education offers both professionals and peers a different health promotion approach and method, based on equality and mutual respect, providing an opportunity to engage with hard to reach groups in their community

Respect An important part of naloxone peer education is; peers talk the same language Respect of individual’s life style, personal choices and experiences. Peer educators are taught that everyone needs to be treated respectfully and with dignity. That means for instance that the person has the right to choose the way and how they want to live and what support they want. Peer educators are there to raise awareness of naloxone and local drug-related deaths, offer naloxone training to individuals and get them supplied with naloxone kits.

People think naloxone is only for PWID People trained don’t want to pick up a naloxone kit because of the stigma from family/friends who think this means they are still using or back using drugs after a period of being drug free. I DO NOT mix in those circles anymore. I don’t want to carry naloxone in case I get stopped by police for carrying it (naloxone) I hear what your saying but this is about anybody who has a history of using opiates and many of those who die in Scotland do not inject. I understand what you mean but having a supply of naloxone doesn’t mean you are using drugs, all it says about you is that you’re someone who cares about people who are still using. I think that is brilliant that you don’t mix in those circles anymore but the reality is there are individuals in your community who have not yet managed to achieve that and this is about keeping people alive long enough to get the same opportunities that you have. If police are stopping you it is not because your carrying naloxone the last time I checked they hadn’t developed x- ray vision yet.

Naloxone should be the corner stone of a Recovery Pathway for People at Risk of Opioid Overdose. Naloxone can be the building blocks for many individuals.

What you Permit you Promote

KEY MESSAGES Challenge stigma and negative language among colleagues/peers. Be flexible it helps build the therapeutic relationship. Support individual strengths, don’t suppress them. Equality implies individuality... “the sun rises and sets for everyone”

Make It Happen Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you That is Greater than any obstacle

Main Office Scottish Drugs Forum 91 Mitchell Street Glasgow G1 3LN t: f: e: Edinburgh 139 Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8AJ t: f: e: Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) is a company limited by guarantee, registration no with charitable status and is also a registered Scottish charity registered SC Registered Office: 91 Mitchell Street, Glasgow, G1 3LN Find drug services in your area: Hepatitis Scotland Take Home Naloxone