Overdose fears over kit for Fife and Tayside drug addicts

Thousands of drug addicts in Fife and Tayside could be risking overdoses due to the distribution of a ”life-saving” drug that temporarily reverses the effects of heroin if it all goes wrong, it has been claimed.

The fears — played down by drugs workers — were expressed by Scottish Conservative health spokesman and deputy leader Jackson Carlaw as the Scottish Government welcomed figures that show naloxone is being distributed the length and breadth of Scotland and is being made available to those at risk of heroin overdose.

Scotland was the first country in the world to announce a national naloxone programme, in November 2010.

The programme is centrally coordinated and funded by the Scottish Government, empowering individuals, families, friends and communities to reverse an overdose.

Naloxone provides more time foran ambulance to arrive and further treatment to be given to those in overdose situations.

Figures published showed that 3,445 naloxone kits were issued in Scotland in 2011/12,. This included 225 kits in Fife and 61 kits in Tayside.

Mr Carlaw said last night: ”We have long argued that the best approach to getting people off drugs like heroin is an abstinence-based approach.

”I appreciate that in standalone cases these kits could save the life of someone who has overdosed on heroin but we have to consider the impact of handing thousands of these pills out to people who are hooked on such a dangerous drug.

”I would like to see some analysis on whether or not this encourages them to indulge in the drug, and indeed makes them feel even more secure in doing so.

”We should be taking a hard line on heroin, not encouraging its use.”

Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Roseanna Cunningham, said: ”This Government is committed to addressing Scotland’s long legacy of problem drug use through our drugs strategy, the Road to Recovery.

”Our naloxone programme is world-leading. Naloxone offers the chance to save a life and sends a clear message to individuals that their lives matter.”

Fife has an estimated 3,300 problem drug users. This is a smaller number than estimated for similar-sized areas such as Tayside, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and Arran.

The take-home naloxone pilot has been running in Fife since April last year.

Over 225 doses were issued in the region up to March 2012. The rate of issue equates to 68 per 1000 problem drug users, the fourth highest in Scotland.

Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership chairman George Cunningham said the number of kits issued reflected the activity of staff and the prioritisation of preventing drug-related deaths by Fife ADP.

He added: ”To have this number of kits issued in such a short timescale is encouraging and is testament to the hard work and commitment of frontline staff.

”The take-home naloxone pilot has provided frontline addictions workers with an effective way of reducing the risk of death from opiate use with the vast majority of kits issued directly to service users.”

Fife ADP coordinator Mark Steven added: ”We are not complacent, however, and are working hard to make sure naloxone is easily available to at-risk individuals, their families, friends and carers.”