Anti-overdose kits for every police officer

POLICE Scotland will become the first UK force to issue all officers with the anti-overdose treatment naloxone.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said the rollout is the ‘right thing to do’ after a trial in which it was used dozens of times.

The medication counters the effects of drugs such as heroin and can save the lives of overdose victims. One officer said it can have a ‘miraculous’ effect.

All operational officers will now be equipped with naloxone nasal spray kits and trained in their use. It follows a review of Police Scotland’s six-month trial of the medication found a majority of officers support a wider rollout.

It was administered 51 times during the trial between March and October last year and its use has continued since then.

Mr Livingstone said: ‘What that pilot showed is that naloxone can save lives.

‘Over 60 people have been saved through the issue of naloxone. It’s safe and officers are comfortable using it.’

However, he said it would not combat Scotland’s drugs deaths problem.

‘There needs to be other interventions,’ he said. ‘There needs to be support services for those who suffer drug addiction and their families.’

During the trial, around 808 officers were trained in the use of naloxone and 656 volunteered to carry it.

Following the evaluation, carried out by a group of researchers at Edinburgh Napier University, Mr Livingstone said: ‘We are issuing it to all our officers because it is the right thing to do.’

Dundee-based PC Ross Hunter was one of the officers who administered naloxone during the trial and saw people regain consciousness quickly. He said: ‘I almost can’t explain it. It is fairly miraculous… they’re going from the worst moment in their life – a critical moment for their health – and within a few minutes at most they’re up and speaking.’

Drugs Minister Angela Constance said: ‘I welcome Police Scotland’s ongoing commitment to tackling the challenges we face in relation to drugrelated deaths with a clear public health approach.

‘Increasing the provision and availability of naloxone is a key priority in our national mission to help save the lives of those most at risk, and ensuring that emergency responders are equipped to utilise this lifesaving medication is critical.’

‘It is fairly miraculous’