North Police now ready with lifesaving drug overdose treatment
The rollout of Naloxone to Police across the Highlands has been completed
The rollout of Naloxone to Police officers across the Highland & Islands Division has been completed, with nearly 600 pouches being distributed.
The emergency first aid treatment is for use in a potentially life-threatening overdose situation. It works by reversing the respiratory suppression caused by opioids and it can buy critical minutes until ambulance crews take over.
Officers will undertake online training before receiving the kits which they can use alongside their in-depth first aid training.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, Divisional Commander for Highlands & Islands, said: “Officers are often first on scene at incidents of overdose and the Naloxone nasal sprays give us the opportunity to buy someone critical time until professional medical help arrives.
"Drug misuse can have a devastating effect on individuals, families and entire communities and I hope the carriage of Naloxone by our officers helps to saves lives and positively change attitudes."
Police Scotland piloted the use of Naloxone by its officers last year as part of a public health approach to addressing the country’s drug death rates.
Officers in four areas (including Caithness) began carrying the single use intra-nasal sprays in March 2021.
Since then, it has been used in at least 95 incidents by officers, with positive outcomes on all but four occasions. In three of the four incidents, officers suspected the individual was already deceased, however, they administered Naloxone to give the casualty every possible chance at recovery. In the fourth instance the individual did not regain consciousness and later died in hospital.