Naloxone Prevents Overdose
North Yorkshire Horizons drug and alcohol service is helping to raise awareness of how you can help in the event of witnessing an overdose.
“We want everyone to understand that overdose deaths are preventable.”
– Mark Vidgen, Operations Director at North Yorkshire Horizons
Across the world, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), held yearly on 31 August, aims to improve understanding of overdose and encourage changes to reduce the harms associated with drug use.
Mark said:
“People are at most risk of overdose when they may have had a break from using drugs, or if they have recently left detox/rehab or custody. The variety in purity of street drugs can also pose an overdose risk.”
North Yorkshire Horizons is reminding you to ask about getting a Naloxone kit so you can keep it on hand.
Naloxone is the emergency antidote for overdoses caused by heroin and other opioids. When injected into someone experiencing the effects of opioid overdose, it temporarily reverses the overdose effect, helping the patient to revive. Workers in the hubs will show you how to use it.
Mark said:
“Naloxone is readily available for free from us. We want everyone to carry a naloxone kit because naloxone saves lives.”
And he continued:
“The safest choice is not to use drugs at all, but if you do use drugs, do not use alone – if you use alone then you’re not able to use naloxone. Be sure of the nature of the drugs you’re using and if you’re not sure of the quality take small dose, wait and gauge your reaction.”
Drug-related deaths have increased every year since 2012. 5,448 people died from drug related causes in 2023. Each one of these statistics represents a life that’s been taken away — a child, sibling, parent or friend. Their deaths leave a deep and painful void for the friends, families and communities who grieve their loss, and we offer them our deepest sympathies.
If you would like to speak to someone in confidence about yours or someone else’s drug or alcohol use, then contact us on 0800 14 14 80.