Distribution of kits which help reverse the effects of a drugs overdose has rocketed in Tayside over the last three years.
The area’s health board has seen a massive year-on-year increase in the number of naloxone kits it has handed out.
NHS chiefs today insisted that the move was helping them fight against drug deaths in the region, despite figures which suggest they are on the rise.
The Tele reported last month that almost 50 people across Tayside had died from drugs overdoses alone in 2015, which was up on the previous year. In 2012-13, NHS Tayside issued 326 take-home naloxone kits, which increased to 881 by 2015-16.
Dr Drew Walker, NHS Tayside’s director of public health and chairman of the Tayside Drug Death Review Group, says naloxone is having an impact.
He said: “The number of drug deaths locally has fluctuated over the past few years. However, there has been a concerning rise in the past decade and a great deal of work has been going on to address the problem.
“This has included development of overdose awareness training and the take-home naloxone programme, and improvements in communication and prescribing practice amongst practitioners.
“There is strong international evidence that naloxone has an important role to play alongside a range of treatments and interventions in reducing drug deaths and we are committed to continuing and increasing its use, as are other services across Scotland.”
Daniel Kelly, team manager for the harm reduction service at Dundee’s Cairn Centre, said: “Naloxone will only temporarily reverse the effects of an opiate-based overdose.
“Therefore, where new psychoactive substances, benzodiazepines, gabapentin and other analgesics have been taken naloxone will have no such effect.
“If naloxone can prevent even one death, then it is a worthwhile intervention. However, it is not the only answer.
“It is vital that we educate people to identify the signs of overdose and respond accordingly.”
“Overdose information and advice, as well as naloxone can be accessed Monday to Friday through Cair Scotland’s harm reduction service, between 9am and 5pm.”