New jab to curb death from drugs

A LIFE-saving treatment will be given out on the streets for the first time in a bid to curb deaths from overdosing on drugs.

Charity Addaction will launch a pilot scheme where naloxone is given to users who are then shown how to inject it into others who have overdosed.

The drug prevents breathing difficulties but is only available on prescription through drug treatment or harm reduction services.

Gary Besterfield, service manager of Addaction Redcar and Cleveland, said police are supporting the 12-week scheme in the area.

Mr Besterfield said: “Every drug-related death is a tragedy and every death is avoidable. It’s time to take action.”

Drug-related death figures show the north east had the country’s highest rate, with 96.3 deaths per million people. Addaction aims to spread the scheme across the UK. Mr Besterfield added: “The opportunity to carry and use naloxone shouldn’t be restricted to people who are engaging in drug treatment.

“This is about engaging people where they feel comfortable and saving lives.”

In May police custody officers in nearby Durham became the first in the country to receive training to administer naloxone to detainees who have overdosed.

Durham Police Inspector Jason Meecham said: “This is an opportunity for my staff to save somebody’s life. There’s a couple of minutes where it’s critical.”

Experts have said increasing prescriptions of naloxone could be why overdose deaths have stopped rising in the US for the first time in nearly three decades.