ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: In France, opioids are responsible for the majority of overdose deaths in France. The antidote naloxone is available in France in take home formulations since 2016. Addiction specialized centres are in front-line for naloxone diffusion. The objective was to provide an overview of professional practices, difficulties and needs regarding overdose prevention and naloxone diffusion in these centres of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. METHODS: The POP programme "Prevention and harm reduction of opioid overdoses in PACA region" aims to improve the care of patients at risk of overdose and facilitate naloxone diffusion. The 75 addiction specialized centres of the PACA region were invited to respond to a semi-structured interview or a telephone questionnaire. Data collected included 2020 centres' activity and professionals' perceptions of overdose risk in their active file, their practices, difficulties and needs. RESULTS: Overall, 33 centres answered. Among them, 22 were dispensing naloxone with a mean of 20 kits dispensed in 2020 (min-max: 1-100). Two strategies were pointed out: systematically offering of naloxone to all opioids users or targeting people considered at risk. Several difficulties limiting naloxone diffusion were expressed: a lack of knowledge from opioids users, refusal from people not feeling concerned or refusing the injectable formulation, a lack of training of some professionals to be comfortable with the tool or reglementary or time constraints. CONCLUSION: Naloxone diffusion is incrementally getting into common practices. However barriers are persisting. On the basis of expressed difficulties and needs, information and training materials were co-designed and diffused.
