Firefighters have raised concerns over proposals for them to treat addicts who have overdosed – as Scotland’s drugs deaths crisis continues to top European rates.

Last year 1339 people died from drugs in Scotland, and a Police Scotland pilot on officers carrying naloxone, which reverses and blocks the effects of opioids were used 40 times in the first four months of a trial.

The future role and responsibilities of firefighters is being considered by the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to be “alive to the broader challenges facing our communities and evolve to meet new risks”, while adapting to social change, a framework document said.