Effective use of naloxone among people who inject drugs in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan using pharmacy- and community-based distribution approaches.

Background: Opioid overdose (OD) is a major cause of mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Central Asia, and distribution of naloxone, an opioid antagonist, can effectively prevent these deaths. However, little is known about the use and wastage of distributed naloxone ampoules. Having reliable data on wastage rates is critical for accurately calculating the health impact of naloxone distribution projects targeting PWID.