Derbyshire police officers to carry life-saving overdose drug

Frontline officers at Derbyshire Constabulary are being offered the chance to carry a life-saving nasal spray which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

The force has joined a national project to roll out naloxone, which works by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and relieving breathing difficulties.

The drug is safe and easy to use and officers who volunteer to carry it will be trained to do so. It will first be rolled out to officers in our Response and Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

Derbyshire Constabulary is one of 29 forces encouraging officers to carry Naloxone.

So far, 330 officers have been trained and issued with Naloxone, with almost all those who are eligible choosing to do so.

This comes as an expansion of an existing scheme that sees the same medication issued to heroin users as part of their drug treatment, as well as being made available at both probation offices and hostels. Carrying, issuing and using naloxone will now be just part of everyday life for many emergency response staff and those involved in delivering care.

Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Shooter said: “Policing is ultimately about keeping people safe and our jobs make us uniquely placed to help in many situations.

“We are often first responder on the scene in an emergency and we know that every second counts - so this is another form of first aid which we can give until the right help arrives. It’s fantastic that so many officers have volunteered to add this simple spray to their life-saving kit, to use at incidents where the police are needed.

“Unfortunately, just like our partner organisations, we see the devastating effects opioids can have on our communities. If carrying this spray can give someone a second chance, that is something we welcome with open arms.”

Dr Robyn Dewis, Director of Public Health in Derby City and the Senior Responsible Owner of the recently formed Derby and Derbyshire Drug and Alcohol Strategic Partnership, said: “Increasing the carriage and use of naloxone by all of those who use, or come into contact with those who use heroin is vitally important as we strive to save lives.

“It is also absolutely the right time for partners and our communities to increase their harm reduction responses as we face a growing threat from potent synthetic heroin-like drugs becoming more available across the UK.’