Accidental opioid overdose from licit or illicit opioids such as oxycodone, heroin, codeine, and morphine are significantly on the rise throughout the world. North America, Denmark, Italy, Spain, England, and many other first world countries have all seen a dramatic increase in the amount of deaths due to opioid drug overdoses Naloxone is a drug that can be administered for opioid overdoses via intramuscular injection, intravenously, or through a nasal spray. Naloxone has been proven a safe and effective drug for opioid overdoses.  It dramatically increases the well being of the patient, and is very simple to use and very inexpensive. It is so safe that drug using populations in The United States and Australia have been given the drug to administer to peers, which has proven effective in both countries (Irwin, K.S., Kim, D., Khoshnood, K., 2009). This drug is currently unavailable for paramedics to administer... but why? If we can give it to known drug using populations surely medical professionals should be able to follow the drug protocols for this drug! 

References

Kim, D., Irwin, K., & Khoshnood, K.. (2009). Expanded Access to Naloxone: Options for Critical Response to the Epidemic of Opioid Overdose Mortality. American Journal of Public Health, 99(3), 402-7.  Retrieved December 1, 2010, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. (Document ID: 1647955791).