A Dundee drugs charity says addicts’ lives will be saved after NHS Tayside gave it special dispensation to distribute Naloxone kits to users.
Addaction, which has four offices across Dundee, began distributing Naloxone kits this week in a bid to curb the soaring number of drugs deaths in the city.
Naloxone is used to counter the effects of opiates such as heroin or methadone when someone overdoses.
Dundee has one of the highest drug death rates in Scotland. The most recent statistics available are for 2016 and show there were more than three drug-related deaths a month across the city that year.
Dave Barrie, service manager for Addaction, said addicts mixing heroin or methadone with fake Valium pills could be behind the rising number of drug deaths in Dundee.
He said he believes greater distribution of Naloxone kits will save lives.
He said: “Naloxone has been around for years. There was a national rollout in Scotland and Dundee is one of the places that have given out most Naloxone.
“These have been given out by the NHS but this week we were given permission to give out Naloxone kits.
“There is evidence from around the world that NBaloxone successfully reduces drug deaths. The more Naloxone we have out there in high risk groups the fewer drug deaths there will be.
“We are in four different locations around Dundee so are very much in the communities that have high levels of substance misuse and we also don’t have appointments so people can just drop.
“It will also helped as there is a little bit of fear from some people around the statutory services like the NHS. Being a charity can make it a bit easier for people to access services so we’re really excited.”
Mr Barrie said drug cocktails are particularly dangerous but use of Naloxone, which only negates the effects of opiates, is usually enough to prevent overdoses from becoming fatal.
He said: “If you start using two, three or four different substances the risk is much higher.”
As well as drugs like etizolam, known at “street valium”, Mr Barrie said addicts are also mixing prescription painkillers like pregabalin and gabapentin with heroin or methadone.
“What we’re finding is people in Dundee are taking gabapentin, pregablin and fake Valium.
“These three drugs are highly toxic and extremely dangerous when taken together.
“Naloxone will only reverse the effects of opiates but this is often enough to reverse the effect of overdose.”
Mr Barrie added: “It’s all about reducing this upward trend in drug deaths.
“We are really convinced getting more Naloxone in the community will be a big part in turning things around.”
A total fo 38 people suffered drug-related deaths in Dundee in 2016 and a new drugs commission has been set up as part of a drive to tackle the city’s longstanding problem.
The Drugs Misuse Commission is now asking for input from organisations working to reduce the impact of drug abuse in Dundee.
It is seeking to find out what barriers the city faces in tackling drug addiction, what has been successful in helping addicts kick their habits and what other aspects of drug use the commission should be investigating.