Durham police officers have used the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone to save the lives of 34 people whose lives were in danger due to having taken opiates like heroin, methadone and fentanyl.
Durham Constabulary said it has trained dozens of frontline officers - and some working in custody suites - to provide life-saving treatment to those suffering from the effects of overdosing on the drugs. The kit was first introduced in 2019.
Over the last 12 months, 10 people in custody have been given the drug. The Naloxone kit was introduced to the force in 2019 and 34 people have been helped by the drug so far. It is also carried by NHS services included the North East Ambulance Service.
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The Naloxone kits and training are funded and supported by Durham County Council, as part of their combatting drugs partnership, and Darlington Borough Council. The councils continue to work with the police to address the use of drugs.
Charities We Are With You and HumankindUK have been helping with the training of officers. 2000 have recently been taught how to administer the reversal drug. They have also been trained to use an alternative nasal spray.
Chie Inspector Jason Meecham, of Durham Constabulary, said: "We have had Naloxone available to a number of our officers and in our custody suites for some time now and it has made a significant impact. We will never truly be able to determine if our actions have saved that person’s life but what we do know is that our actions have given 34 people a chance to live."
Naloxone counteracts the effects of an opiate overdose and gives someone time to receive full medical attention.
Ch Insp Meecham added: "Some of the people we deal with are the most vulnerable in our society and it might be that this provides the opportunity to hopefully get their lives back on track. Naxolone has made a significant positive impact since its introduction within Durham Constabulary, which is why we are taking steps to train more officers and staff in its use."
Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: "We work closely with partner agencies through the Combatting Drugs Partnership to try and reduce illegal drug use and deal with the harm it causes.
"This includes commissioning Humankind to provide free and confidential support to drug users and giving Durham Constabulary funding for naloxone and training police officers in its use."
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