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image copyrightMandy Jones
image captionTwo people in north Wales have been treated with heroin antidote naloxone by police officers
A pilot to use a nasal spray to prevent heroin overdose deaths is now being rolled out across a Welsh police force.
North Wales Police says all officers can now volunteer to carry the naloxone medication.
It follows a successful pilot in Flintshire, where the antidote was used to save two lives. We need to do what we can to stop these drug deaths, said the force s outgoing Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones.
He has pushed for naloxone to used by his officers, along with calls to reform laws on drug use.
First published on Mon 22 Feb 2021 05.27 EST
The overdose antidote naloxone should be made available to all police officers in areas where there is a clear need, the police chiefs’ drug lead has urged after successful pilot schemes.
North Wales police and Police Scotland are trialling having beat officers carry naloxone nasal sprays that can be used to treat opiate overdoses, and West Midlands police have extended their pilot scheme, with a rollout due to be announced.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s drugs lead, Jason Harwin, a deputy chief constable with Lincolnshire police, told the Guardian that he was championing the use of naloxone by officers in areas where they may encounter people who have overdosed on opiates.
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