WATCH: Edinburgh cabbies to begin carrying life-saving overdose drug
Edinburgh Central Taxi has teamed up with the Scottish Ambulance service to begin equipping it's drivers with an overdose reversal drug - naloxone
Taxi drivers in Edinburgh are to be offered the chance to carry the life-saving drug naloxone.
The Capital's bigger operator Central Taxis have teamed up with the Scottish Ambulance service to equip it's drivers with the medicine.
Naloxone, which can be administered as an injection or nasal spray, temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Drivers will also be trained in spotting the signs of an overdose.
36 drivers have already signed up to complete the training.
Julie McCartney, SAS’s Drug Harm Reduction Lead for the East Region said the service is "delighted" to be working with the firm.
“Public knowledge and understanding is key as we seek to address the stigma surrounding drug use and encourage a compassionate approach to those who are vulnerable and need our help.
"This forms part of a wider catalogue of work by the Scottish Ambulance Service to maximise every opportunity to support those who use drugs to access treatment and support direct from the scene of an emergency."
Murray Fleming, Company Secretary, at Central Taxis said:
“This is a great campaign. Our drivers are out and about 24 hours a day and are very much the eyes and the ears of the city. We’ve had a terrific initial response from drivers registering to complete the training, carry Naloxone and play their part in the Stop The Deaths initiative.
Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said:
“I welcome this joint initiative by Scottish Ambulance Service and Edinburgh taxi drivers which will result in more lives being saved through the use of the emergency treatment naloxone.
“The response to the Stop The Deaths campaign by the Scottish Drugs Forum and Scottish Government earlier this year has been very encouraging and in addition to saving lives, we hope it has helped reduce the stigmatisation of people at risk of overdose and those with a problematic drug use more broadly.
“Naloxone is one of a wide range of measures being used to address the public health emergency of drugs deaths, but it plays an important role and I hope people will continue to visit the “Stop The Deaths” website to find out more.”