Delivering opioid overdose reversal kits by drone could help stem drug-related deaths in the UK, a study has found.
Researchers from King’s College London (KCL) found that drones could reach 78 per cent of fatal opioid overdoses within seven minutes – a massive increase on the 14 per cent reached by ambulances.
Naloxone is a life-saving drug which reverses or blocks the effect of opioids and rapidly restores normal breathing. ‘Take-home’ naloxone kits are increasingly available from community pharmacies and drug treatment services, but a supply is not always easily accessible.
Paramedics routinely use naloxone when responding to overdoses but cannot always attend an emergency quickly due to ambulance waiting times or the location of a patient.
The study found that 78 per cent of commercial off-the-shelf drones carrying naloxone were capable of reaching an overdose location in seven minutes – the benchmark time for the arrival of an ambulance for “life or limb” Category One calls.
Researchers said the naloxone kit could be delivered to the site of the overdose, and the bystander would administer the medicine by nasal spray. Paramedics would then attend the scene as usual and deliver the patient to urgent care.
Lead author Dr Caroline Copeland, from King’s College London, said: “When a person overdoses and stops breathing, every second counts. Naloxone is very effective when given at the first signs of overdose and is easy to use.
“This study shows that drones can get naloxone to the site of an opioid overdose more quickly than paramedics in an ambulance. This could make a huge difference to people’s survival.”
She added: “Bystanders leaving the scene of overdoses occurs due to fear of prosecution as illegal drugs are often present at the scene. If naloxone can reach those who need it before paramedics and law enforcement, bystanders may be encouraged to help before leaving.”
Dr Paul Royall, from King’s College London and a first author of the study, said: “Drones have the potential to revolutionise medicine delivery. A robust drone network can deliver naloxone kits efficiently. The drones under evaluation have collision detection technology so they don’t fly into buildings or through air space, and are deployed using a standalone drone station.”
