Those at risk of overdosing on heroin have been offered a life-saving treatment thanks to a scheme launched by an Aberdeen-based drugs and alcohol charity.
Drugs Action, a support service based at Hadden Street in the city centre, has become one of the first organisations in Scotland to offer the use of and training for Naloxone kits, a special medicine that, when injected into the muscle, can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose, proving ambulance teams up to 20 minutes extra of vital time to arrive at the scene.
The special kits and accompanying training are available to anyone who needs them, from drug users, to their concerned friends and family members.
Simon Pringle, service manager at the charity, said that although an extra 20 minutes seems like a short time, it can be the difference between life and death for many.
Mr Pringle said: “It’s about buying time.
“If the brain is starved of oxygen for even a few minutes, it can cause brain damage and respiratory failure, so without these kits available in a number of cases it could be too late for some people by the time the ambulance arrives.
“Originally it was only clinical and medical staff who could dispense Naloxone. So although we have always been able to provide the training to use it, we’ve had to be reliant for a long time on other pharmacists to supply the kits.
“But what we found was that only 50% of the people we trained actually went to receive the kits, which is obviously not good enough.
“But the legislation changed in October to allow non-clinical drug services like our selves to provide the kits alongside the training, which is fantastic.
“We are targeting people who are at risk of overdose – people who are on methadone programmes, people who have been using heroin, and we’re also targeting those who used to use, as of course many times those who return to using can easily overdose.
“We’re offering Naloxone and the training completely for free, seven days a week.”
To find out more about the treatment, visit Drugs Action on Hadden Street, phone the charity on 01224 577120 or visit its website, www.drugsaction.co.uk