Moray free training sessions aim to save overdose lives

A charity is offering free training to help people respond to opioid overdoses.

Arrows, Quarriers drug and alcohol support service, in Moray, is offering the potentially life-saving sessions in how to use Naxolone, which combats such overdoses.

Commonly, people think opioids are only associated with drug users, however, an opioid can be a prescribed painkiller given by the GP for acute pain.

The need for overdose training is becoming more critical as stronger synthetic drugs are flooding the market; they are far stronger and often drug users do not realise what they are taking until it is too late.

Amanda Fraser, Arrows Recovery Fieldworker Team Lead said: “Arrows offers training in administering Naloxone.

“This can be one to one, or a group setting, at your home address or wherever you feel comfortable. This can take as little as half an hour.

“Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of an opiate overdose, buying critical time until emergency services arrive.

“Opiates are a prescription pain medication (Dihydrocodeine and Tramadol) as well as illegal substances (heroin and synthetic opiates). Opiates can supress the respiratory function, leading to potential overdose.

“It's important to highlight that people who have issues with substances aren't the only people who can be affected by an overdose. Add alcohol to the mix, an illness, change in situation. Many factors can increase the risk to anyone in our community.”

Arrows has been actively working with various community groups, restaurants, sports clubs, prisons and healthcare providers to spread awareness and provide training.

Naloxone can be administered either as a nasal spray or by injection, both of which are covered in the training session, and attendees will be given a kit which has several doses of Naloxone to take home.

Arrows Drug and Alcohol Service is dedicated to providing drug and alcohol support in Moray. It is a service for anyone worried about alcohol and drug use, whether their own or a loved one.

Support is also offered to the children and families of those affected by drugs and alcohol, with a commitment to keep families together and support them with a family rights-based approach.

To schedule a training session or learn more, contact arrows@quarriers.org.uk or call (01343) 610 500.

For more information on the support Arrows can offer to drug and alcohol users, visit https://www.quarriers.org.uk/