“Promitheas welcomes the Ministerial Decision on Naloxone that will save lives”

Athens, July 24, 2025

The decision for the universal availability of naloxone, a pharmaceutical formulation used to reverse the effects of opioids in cases of overdose, has acquired regulatory force with its publication in the Government Gazette (FEK 3890/B/22-07-2025).

Naloxone will now be available through private pharmacies, both in intranasal form and as a pre-filled syringe for intramuscular injection, with a medical prescription from doctors of any specialty. It may be dispensed to any citizen—relatives, friends, and caregivers of people who use drugs—without requiring professional status in the health sector. Training for the use of naloxone can be provided either by the prescribing physician or by EOPAE.

The opioid crisis has destroyed lives and left an indelible mark on society. The decision to expand access to naloxone is a decisive step in the right direction, as it brings a life-saving tool closer to those who need it most.

Five years ago, the increase in overdose-related mortality in Athens led to the creation of a collaborative alliance aiming to improve care and response for people who use substances. This alliance brought together local stakeholders: scientists from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the organization Promitheas, the Hellenic Scientific Society for the Study of AIDS, STDs, and Emerging Diseases, and the Municipality of Athens, uniting their efforts to promote life-saving solutions. Through scientific evidence, public interventions, and strengthened awareness, the alliance highlighted the need for universal access to naloxone. This effort was substantially supported by the Municipality’s participation in the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 74 cities committed to saving lives by preventing non-communicable diseases and injuries. Within this framework, the organization Vital Strategies provided technical support and resources for the design and implementation of our interventions.

The first victory came in 2021, when legislation for the first time permitted naloxone administration outside public hospitals and the National Emergency Aid Center (EKAV). Today, with access extended to every citizen, we are taking the next step—but this alone is not enough.

According to research by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, more than one-third of deaths recorded among people who use psychoactive substances in recent years were due to overdose. One in four deaths among opioid users in Greece are attributed to overdose. In addition, a significant proportion of deaths among PWUD (people who use drugs) are linked to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, as well as liver cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Homelessness and limited access to healthcare and harm reduction services further exacerbate the risks. These data underline the urgent need for a holistic, long-term, and equitable approach to public health, addressing the full spectrum of risks faced by people who use psychoactive substances. Naloxone must be made available without prescription, as an emergency medicine, so that it can truly reach every critical moment in time.

For Promitheas, today’s decision is a necessary step, but one that came too late for those who tragically lost their lives to overdose. Civil society organizations, scientists, and local government will continue working together to ensure that naloxone reaches every household in need, and that every individual knows how to use it safely and effectively.

Contact Information:

info@promitheasngo.com
211 0122102

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