North Yorkshire Police praise work of 'life-saving' nasal spray
It's to mark International Overdose Awareness Day
To mark the occasion, North Yorkshire Police and public health partners are highlighting the effective use of Naloxone nasal spray to save lives.
Naloxone is the emergency antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
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Published:
00:05
31/08/2024
31 August is International Overdose Awareness Day.
To mark the occasion, North Yorkshire Police and our public health partners are highlighting the effective use of Naloxone nasal spray to save lives.
Naloxone is the emergency antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
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If administered within 15 minutes of an opioid overdose, it can restore normal breathing to a person if it has slowed or stopped.
The main cause of premature death among people who use drugs in the UK is drug overdose.
Many of the reported deaths could potentially have been avoided if Naloxone had been administered, which buys more time for medical intervention by ambulance and hospital teams.
Since North Yorkshire Police began its voluntary training programme and roll-out to Neighbourhood Policing and Response officers on 23 April this year, 140 officers have been issued with Naloxone.
Danny Stannard, Harm Reduction Officer, Local Policing Support, said:
“More than double that number of officers will be taking part in upcoming training sessions in September and October, which will ensure the spread of Naloxone trained officers will cover every part of the force area.
“We are also very proud to confirm that since the roll-out of this life saving piece of kit, Naloxone has been used to good effect seven times.”
Craig Bosomworth, Harm Reduction Strategic Lead, North Yorkshire Horizons & Public Health, said: “We have made great strides during the past year to progress the roll-out of Naloxone to North Yorkshire Police officers.
“As part of their patrols, front line officers often encounter incidents involving potential drug overdoses.
“Thanks to the training sessions and issuing Naloxone to the officers, they can now recognise the symptoms and confidently administer the life-saving nasal spray while an ambulance is on the way.
“The roll-out has been funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, actively supported by the North Yorkshire and York Drug and Alcohol Partnership and comes under a North Yorkshire Substance Use Strategy which has been developed by partners.
“As a partnership, we can be proud of the efforts and significant progress made to reduce drug related harm.”