THE roll out by West Midlands Police of a lifesaving antidote that can prevent drug overdose deaths is taking its next step.
Officers are using naloxone as a nasal spray that can temporarily reverse the deadly effects that can be caused by drugs like heroin, methadone, morphine and fentanyl.
It can buy time until paramedics arrive.
The main life-threating effects of drugs like heroin are that they can slow down and stop breathing. Naloxone blocks this effect and reverses the breathing difficulties.
Officers in Birmingham began carrying the medicine in 2019.
It can be dispensed in an emergency without prescription for the purpose of saving a life.
It is easy for officers to use and has no effects on those who are not suffering an overdose.
The original roll out of naloxone followed the publication of a hard hitting report from the Police and Crime Commissioner which highlighted the impact that drugs were having on the West Midlands.
It revealed someone in the region dies every 3 days due to drug poisoning.
The report also stated that the impact of drugs were costing the taxpayer in the region of £1.4 billion a year.
Now, with 52 officers trained to use it in Birmingham, naloxone is being rolled out in Walsall with plans to further extend its use across the region this year, as officers are trained.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, says it will not only save lives, but will save the taxpayer money.
“Naloxone is a key part of the approach we’re taking to tackle drug related harm and substance misuse in the West Midlands,” he said.
“Officers carrying naloxone out on the beat was one of the key recommendations from my report and one I am proud we delivered quickly and are now expanding.
“This initiative shows the commitment of our officers that first and foremost, their duty is to protect life.
“By administering naloxone as a first responder to an overdose they show that they are not just there to enforce, but also to support.
“Officers are often involved in securing scenes after fatal overdoses, sometimes for considerable amounts of time. This scheme is helping to reduce the number of overdoses, meaning that as well as saving lives, it will save the taxpayer money too and free-up resources to tackle crime.”
Rolling out naloxone also has the backing of Public Health England and other agencies who have signed up to a shared ambition for the West Midlands to be the leading region for naloxone provision.
