FRONTLINE Cumbria Police officers have been given 'life-saving' antidotes to help stop overdoses.

The antidote, called naloxone, is in the form of a nasal spray and is available for use by officers along with other first aid responses in emergencies, has been given to Cumbria Police thanks to funding from both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council.

This funding has provided Police with 800 naloxone nasal sprays and carriage pouches with extra funding in place to cover replacements.

Patrol officers and neighbourhood policing team officers, including police community support officers (PCSOs), are among those currently being trained to use the antidote as part of an ongoing roll-out across the force.

So far more than 300 officers and PCSOs have been trained, with the aim being to raise this number to 700 within a year.

Temporary detective superintendent Andy Myers has overseen the move to have officers trained in use of the antidote.

He said: "Our officers are quite often the first people at the scene of an emergency, so it makes sense for them to be able to administer this antidote if it involves this type of life-threatening incident.

"If the officer discovers a suspected opioid overdose they will still immediately request an ambulance so that medical professionals can be on the scene as quickly as possible.

"But it makes sense for trained officers to be able to administer this antidote where appropriate to buy more time for a medical response.

"If administered within 15 minutes of an overdose, the depressive effects of the drug can be reversed and a life may be saved.

"They will remain with the casualty until the arrival of a suitable health care professional.

Temporary detective superintendent Myers also encouraged people to access support services and consider the consequences of using substances. 

"We want this to be seen as part of a wider set of life-saving first aid measures," He said.

"For instance, people wouldn’t be surprised to know our officers may use a defibrillator on a member of the public who had collapsed with a suspected heart attack – and this should be no different.

"As always, we would urge those who are using or considering using substances that can cause overdose to consider the potential consequences of their actions.

"Taking drugs can prove to be fatal and ruins lives.

"There is support out there for people affected and I’d encourage people to access the support that services such as Recovery Steps Cumbria can provide."