Police to carry antidote in pilot project to help drug overdose victims

An emergency antidote to treat drug overdose victims will be carried by police officers as part of a pilot project.

Training is set to begin early in the new year

The nasal spray Naloxone counters the effects of overdoses from opioids such as heroin.

Viewed as a first-aid treatment, it can provide extra time for the ambulance service to arrive and take over emergency medical treatment.

The trial, which will run for six months in Glasgow East, Falkirk and Dundee, is being introduced in response to rising drug-related deaths in Scotland.

Latest available figures show there were 1,187 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2018, the highest number since records began in 1996.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, head of drug strategy for Police Scotland, said: “There has been a great deal of careful consideration given as to whether our officers should carry Naloxone as an additional piece of equipment and consultation has taken place with a range of partners through the Naloxone Delivery Steering Group.

“In doing so, it is hoped the testbed areas will show the value of our officers carrying this treatment as an extension to the existing extensive first-aid training already provided by the organisation."

Figures from the National Records of Scotland indicate opiates/opioids were implicated in, or a potential contributory factor in, 86 per cent of drug-related deaths in 2018.

Carrying Naloxone will be voluntary, but all frontline officers of the rank of constable, sergeant and inspector within the pilot areas will be required to undertake a training and education session.

It is estimated about 700 officers will be trained to potentially take part in the scheme.

Police Scotland said they have instigated the pilot project as a result of ongoing work with organisations and third sector groups as part of a “holistic, sustainable approach” to tackling the issues relating to problematic drug use in Scotland.

However David Hamilton, Scottish Police Federation (SPF) chairman, said: “The SPF remains completely opposed to the carriage or administering of Naloxone by police officers.

“The number of drugs deaths in Scotland is a health calamity that needs urgent addressing, but sticky-plaster initiatives like these divert resources from tackling the underlying problem.”

“Nobody in the UK has died as a consequence of a police officer not carrying Naloxone, people have however died as a consequence of being given Naloxone.”