by BILL HEANEY
On this International Overdose Awareness Day, Police Scotland is recognising the people, families and communities affected by drug overdose.
Today also marks the fifth anniversary of the introduction of Naloxone, an emergency first aid treatment that can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose, to frontline officers in Scotland.
Since its introduction, Naloxone has been administered over 1,300 times, potentially saving many lives.
Funding from the Scottish Government has resulted in Police Scotland being the first force in the UK to train all officers to administer the lifesaving medication, which is a simple nasal spray absorbed through the nose to temporarily block the effects of an opioid overdose.
Officers have used Naloxone when finding unconscious casualties during patrols or when they have been alerted to an overdose by a member of the public.
The medication can buy vital time for someone who has overdosed until medical assistance arrives to provide professional support.
Chief Superintendent Joanne McEwan said: “Police Scotland recognises the pain the loss of a loved one causes and the wider harms of drugs across our communities.
“We will continue to work towards reducing drug-related deaths and making Scotland a hostile environment for those involved in criminal activity related to drugs.”
Police Scotland works with healthcare partners and other agencies to reduce harms caused by substance addiction as part of a Scotland-wide public health approach.
“We have invested more than £4 million in significantly widening access to naloxone, including through our emergency services and community pharmacies, and remain committed to further expanding naloxone provision.
“This has become even more important due to the increasingly unpredictable drug supply and the increasing prevalence of highly dangerous synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which raise the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death
“The work done by Police Scotland and other partners has been instrumental in saving lives, and I am grateful for the hard work of all the police officers who provide this vital frontline service.
“We will continue to ensure Police Scotland officers and emergency services continue to carry naloxone and are supported with the necessary training and guidance.”