Fulfilling Lives in Islington and CamdenFulfilling Lives in Islington & Camden (FLIC) has now closed its doors. However, all of our news, learnings and reports can be found here, and our clients' voices and films can be found here. FLIC was an eight-year Lottery funded learning programme, designed to support people experiencing multiple disadvantage and affect system change to improve the experience and outcomes for people accessing services. Too often the voices of people experiencing multiple disadvantage aren't heard. Putting clients at the centre of everything we do was key to our work. Our support service was intensive, trauma-informed and led by the experiences and insights of our clients. We worked in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies across both boroughs to improve services for people with multiple needs and drive systemic change, influencing how services are designed and delivered. If you have any questions, please email Lucy Campbell ([email protected]), SHP's head of Multiple Disadvantage Transformation. Home Our action plan Our work with clients Voices Learning and resources News Naloxone: The need for the life-saving drug The anti-overdose drug Naloxone has been around since the 70s. However, many people have died from opiate overdoses and are continuing to do so as it is only available from substance use treatment providers. We have witnessed first-hand the lives that can be saved with Naloxone. Together with Fulfilling Lives Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham, FLIC responded to a national DHSC consultation about changing the legislation so that more services can supply Naloxone. These would include: outreach and day services, supported accommodation services (including hostels, approved premises and refuges) for people with substance use issues and people who experience homelessness or rough sleeping. Our research supports that: Naloxone should be more readily availableCurrently, the main point of contact for accessing naloxone is drug and alcohol services. This should be expanded further, for example to domestic violence services, sexual health services and food banks, this will help to decrease opioid related deaths. Training is essentialAppropriate training and knowledge is required to use naloxone. Training around how naloxone works and how it is administered. People with former experience said that they were not aware of naloxone when they were using opiates and all knew people who had died from opiate overdoses. These deaths could have been prevented. Training is not only needed for practitioners and staff, but also for those using substances or with lived experience. Stigma is a barrier to its usagePeople with first-hand experience highlighted that there was a perception that carrying naloxone could lead to criminalisation or services having a negative perception of them. There was also perceived risks associated with withdrawal, and concerns about causing accidental harm. Research found that some Prison Officers believed distributing naloxone at the point of release from prison could act as a potential incentive or encouragement for using opiates when back in the community rather than viewing it as a harm reduction measure to reduce deaths. In the report we produced with FL LSL, you will find insights on the following; lived experience perceptions, accessibility to Naloxone and its distribution, administering Naloxone, the perceived benefits and risks, and the potential risks impacting people with protected characteristics. Find it here