Cumbria police officers to carry opioid overdose antidote

Naloxone, the antidote, is administered as a nasal spray and is now part of the emergency first aid response.

Patrol officers and neighbourhood policing team officers, including police community support officers (PCSOs), are 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 of increasing this number to 700 within a year.

The roll-out has been underway over the last few months, with the first person to be given the antidote by a police officer in Whitehaven during the summer.

The man had taken substances about 20 minutes before coming into contact with police on an unrelated matter and became unresponsive as the officer spoke to him.

The officer administered naloxone before the arrival of paramedics, who took over at that point.

The man made a full recovery.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Andy Myers has overseen the move to have officers trained in the 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."

Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped.

Training consists of a short session as part of general first aid training.

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

"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."

Funding for the initiative has come from both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, following work with the force.

Funding provided 800 naloxone nasal sprays and carriage pouches with extra funding to cover replacements.

This funding was supplied to deliver work carried out through the county’s multi-agency Combating Drugs Partnership.

This partnership is chaired by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen.

He said: "Naloxone is a life-saving antidote so I’m really pleased that after appropriate training police officers can now carry this.

"The Combating Drugs Partnership was put in place to tackle drug-related crime and reduce drug-related harm – the provision of naloxone is one of the steps which allows us to achieve this goal.

"I’m sure our officers hope never to be in a situation where they have to use the antidote, but I’m pleased that we have officers that are trained and prepared if they are ever put in the position and need to save a life."

Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “We are delighted to provide funding to Cumbria Police to enable frontline officers to carry naloxone and reverse the effects of a drug overdose.

“This is an important step in helping to save lives and prevent drug-related deaths in our area.”