Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership celebrated a significant achievement on Tuesday, marking the training of 250 Lincolnshire Police officers to administer naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
Naloxone, available from drug treatment providers and some pharmacies, is a crucial first aid tool in combating the rising tide of opioid-related incidents. Lincolnshire Police have integrated naloxone training into their broader strategy to address drug use in the county, partnering with Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, which offers free and confidential services related to drug and alcohol use.
The officers are trained to use Nyxoid, a nasal spray version of naloxone, and Prenoxad, an easy-to-use injection. To date, 270 officers have received training, with 231 equipped with naloxone, making Lincolnshire Police one of the leading forces in the country in naloxone implementation.
Special constable Felstead-Solley, one of the trained officers, emphasised the importance of naloxone for all operational officers. ‘I feel naloxone is important for all operational officers to have as our number one priority is to save life and limb. It is a really good tool to have especially when it can save lives,’ he said. ‘People overdosing, whether by accident or not, are in need of help. There is a huge drug issue in our community and country, people turning to drugs are still people, they just need help.’
The Home Office has projected an increase in drug-related deaths due to the rise in synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which are up to 500 times more potent than heroin. Recent figures indicate at least 400 drug-related deaths across the UK linked to nitazenes. Last year, the government classified 15 synthetic opioids, including 14 types of nitazenes, as Class A drugs.
Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership plan to continue their collaboration, focusing on naloxone training for teams in the east of the county ahead of the summer tourist season. Future training sessions will be integrated into police officers’ continuous professional development (CPD) and student officer training.
Stephen Knubley, deputy director of intelligence for Lincolnshire Police, said, ‘Lincolnshire Police recognise that a multi-partnership approach is essential in addressing the impact illicit drugs have on our communities and specifically how important the issue of naloxone is in mitigating the threat that synthetic opioids pose.
‘We know that the naloxone is safe, highly effective at reversing opioid overdoses, and can save the life of someone who may otherwise have died.
‘We have now reached a milestone with over 250 Lincolnshire Police officers and staff having been trained. This is testament to the support and commitment of the Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership team and highlights how policing supports a whole systems approach to keeping all our communities safe.’
Robyn Wight, acting consultant in public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said, ‘Preventing premature death is a priority for public health and having over 250 police officers trained to carry naloxone is a great step forward in helping to reduce drug related deaths.’
Elli McNally, harm reduction and health promotion lead at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, highlighted the life-saving potential of naloxone. ‘People’s lives can be saved by naloxone. It is easy to carry, simple to use and should be part of everyone’s first aid kit. I’m really glad that Lincolnshire Police want to start carrying naloxone, and we’ve had a good reception for it in the training with most officers taking a kit.
‘Police are often the first on the scene if a person overdoses and can have the opportunity to save their life. The police’s awareness and willingness to support naloxone helps to remove barriers between people using substances and the police and opens up conversations for people to be aware of and access support if they want to.’
Adam Sutcliffe, senior operations manager at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, added, ‘Training over 250 officers to be able to administer naloxone is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the great progress we are making here in Lincolnshire.
‘More people are able to respond to an emergency and potentially save a person’s life. It is further evidence of our collaborative approach, working with the police to support and save people.’
This blog was originally published by Turning Point. You can read the original post here.
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