PARAMEDICS are to give patients at risk of a drugs overdose medication which could save their life as part of a pilot scheme in Glasgow.
A three-month “take-home naloxone” trial is being funded which will see those treated by emergency workers for a non-fatal overdose who do not want to go to hospital given a kit to take away. Training will be given on how to use the drug, which can reverse the effect of an opioid overdose.
Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) medical director Jim Ward said: “We are committed to improving outcomes for all patients and our paramedics and ambulance clinicians often respond to emergencies to treat people who are experiencing an accidental overdose from drug use.
“This is a vital project that has the potential to help save lives – we are pleased that we will be on the front line in efforts to cut the death rate in Scotland from drug overdose by offering this additional patient safety intervention.”
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The medication can be used in the event of any future overdose before the ambulance arrives, reducing the risk of death. Five hundred kits have been provided to the SAS for the Glasgow pilot. The trial could be made permanent and extended to other areas.
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “This pilot scheme is one of a range of actions the Drug Deaths Taskforce is taking to address the public health emergency Scotland faces in terms of drug-related deaths.
“We know from the evidence that having naloxone available can and does save lives, but we also know from our database that around half of those whose death was drug-related had also suffered a non-fatal overdose at some point.”
The £12,500 trial is being funded by the taskforce.
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