The national roll-out of life-saving Naloxone to Police Scotland’s operational officers, trialled in Caithness two years ago, was officially completed yesterday (Thursday, August 31) on International Overdose Awareness Day.
Caithness was chosen to become part of a trial programme in 2021 in which police were trained to administer Naloxone nasal sprays for people who may have had an overdose of heroin and other opiates.
The full programme to issue overdose reversal kits to all constables, sergeants and inspectors began exactly a year ago, and around 12,500 officers are now trained and equipped with individual pouches to be worn as part of standard issue equipment.
Naloxone is an emergency first aid treatment to reverse a potentially life-threatening opioid/opiate-related drug overdose by countering the suppression of the respiratory system.