First deployment of Naloxone by a police officer in Northamptonshire helps save a man’s life following a drug overdose

A man’s life has potentially been saved just days after Northamptonshire Police officers began carrying a medical nasal spray designed to revive people who have suffered a drug overdose.

In what was the first successful deployment of naloxone by a police officer in this county, PC Becky Davis, who works in the Force’s Op Revive team, used the spray to assist a man found lying unconscious and unresponsive in Fish Street, Northampton.

Suspecting a likely opioid overdose, PC Davis deployed the nasal spray and the man, who was aged in his 20s, came around and she stayed with him until paramedics arrived to provide further medical help.

Neighbourhood officers working on the Operation Revive programme in Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering, began carrying the spray at the end of August, having been trained and certified in its use, with the asset being further rolled out across the Force in the coming weeks and months.

The nasal spray is an emergency antidote for overdoses caused by heroin and other opiates or opioids and works by temporarily reversing the effects of the overdose by reversing the depression of the central nervous and respiratory systems.

Naloxone prevents the opioid from blocking the breathing centres of the brain which would cause suffocation - the main cause of death in opioid overdose –in turn buying valuable time to keep the subject alive pending arrival of paramedics.

Detective Superintendent Steve Watkins has led the project, working closely with partners including Public Heath England, CGL and S2S as part of the pilot.

He said: “Within only a few days of this launching in the county, a police officer has provided potentially life-saving aid to a man who had suffered an opiate overdose.

“The spray is already being used by ambulance crews and other partners in the county and with police officers now equipped with the spray, we can hopefully prevent more drug-related deaths from synthetic opioids.

“This is a fantastically positive development, and we are grateful for the support we have received from colleagues in health as well as drug misuse charities who have helped to make this happen.”

Jane Bethea, North Northamptonshire Council's Director of Public Health and Chair of the Northamptonshire Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, said: “Our first priority is to prevent people from taking street drugs but it’s also important that we provide support for those who become addicted. Street drugs can cause serious harm and drug-users need to know how to minimise the potential harm.

If you are a drug user in Northamptonshire, please do not use drugs alone as it poses a potential risk to your health. Carry the rescue medication naloxone and share this guidance with family and friends."

Pictured is the body-worn video of the incident on September 6.