Wonder kits save the lives of 33 drug overdose victims in Edinburgh

Numbers trained in treatment have more than doubled in five years

156 people were able to provide naloxone hydrochloride last year - compared to just 64 in 2015.

LIFESAVERS trained to administer a drug to combat heroin overdoses in the Capital have more than doubled in five years - preventing more than 30 deaths.

Figures obtained under freedom of Information laws reveal there were 156 able to provide naloxone hydrochloride last year - compared to just 64 in 2015.

Charity volunteers and council workers as well as medics are on the list - reversing an overdose 33 times over the five years.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is very welcome that more third sector staff are being trained to administer Naloxone and saved at least 33 lives over the last five years.

“In Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland we are facing a drug death crisis and measures such as training staff in emergency administration of Naloxone can help reduce drug deaths.”

The Evening News reported last summer how drug deaths more than doubled in the Capital over the previous ten years.

There were 95 fatalities in 2018 compared to 45 in 2009 while National Records of Scotland figures also reveal a massive decade rise in the Lothians as a whole - from 81 to 152.

The 1,187 deaths nationally in 2018 were the most since records began in 1996 and the highest rate in the EU, prompting calls for the UK government to radically overhaul its policy.

Mr Briggs called for more drug rehabilitation beds to be made available nationally to help treat addicts.

“Above all SNP Ministers must take a completely fresh approach to drug policy, which is why the Scottish Conservatives are calling for £15.4m in the upcoming budget for drug rehabilitation beds to support drug addicts in their recovery,” he said.

As well as GPs and pharmacists, non NHS Lothian staff given naloxone training over the last five years have mostly included hostel and supported accommodation staff.

But emergency first-aiders working for the Street Assist charity which helps those stricken on the streets of the Capital on weekend nights have also been involved.

Between 2015 and 2019, there were 465 naloxone kits issued to workers across the Capital to NHS staff, volunteers and charity workers.

Official records reveal there were 33 instances of the kits being used to reverse an overdose in the last five years in the city.

That number could be much higher, however, as staff prioritise the care of victims before completing a form to obtain a new kit.

The naloxone kits are held by patients, family, staff or within a service or workplace until needed in an emergency.

A single dose of naloxone is always 0.4mg and each kit has five doses which are injected into muscle - usually the thigh or shoulder - with a needle.

The naloxone works by helping counteract the effects of slow breathing so bringing the victim out of an overdose.

NHS Lothian Executive Director Prof Alex McMahon: “NHS Lothian has made huge efforts to train and supply staff who work anywhere there are vulnerable people at risk since we began in 2011.

“As a result, there are many non-clinical staff saving lives of their service users on a regular basis whose efforts are often unrecognised.”