People across Scotland issued over 7000 kits containing life-saving drug naloxone

Scots were issued with over 7000 take-home kits containing the overdose-reversing drug naloxone within three months last year, official figures indicate.

Statistics published by Public Health Scotland show that between July 1 and September 30 in 2021, a total of 7219 Take-Home Naloxone (THN) kits were given out.

The kits have been issued as part of efforts to reduce the number of drugs deaths in Scotland, which have hit record levels.

Administered as a nasal spray, the drug reduces the effect of an opioids overdose.

During the period between July and September last year, 5640 THN kits were issued by services based in the community.

Prisons in Scotland issued 399 kits, whilst 862 kits were issued by community pharmacies and 295 kits were provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Thousands of people across the country have already signed up to receive training for the use of naloxone kits.

Stop The Deaths – a joint initiative by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) – was advertised across the country after launching in August last year.

Glasgow Taxis have also helped to raise awareness of the campaign, with more than 20 of the firm’s drivers volunteering to carry naloxone.