PUBLIC Health Dorset is funding a programme for a 'take home' injectable medicine in efforts to prevent drug-related deaths.

Laura Everett-Coles is a health programme advisor at Public Health Dorset and has explained how the new medicine called Naloxone will help to save lives.

She said: "We all hope that the people we care about in life are safe and healthy. Sadly, that’s not always the case. Unfortunately some people will end up facing issues with drugs, including opiates like heroin.

"Imagine if someone you loved or cared for had taken a drug overdose and you found them unconscious and stopping breathing. It may be your son or daughter, your mother or best friend. How would you feel watching them lose their fight for life right before your eyes? Not be able to do anything about it apart from call for an ambulance and then have to wait for it to arrive.

"Now imagine the same situation but that you had a way to help revive them right there and then.

"After calling an ambulance, you could give them an injection to help restore their breathing. This would reverse the effect of the overdose, most likely saving their life. After this you would put them in the recovery position and apply the techniques of basic life support you’d been taught to bring them round."

Ms Everett Coles said changes in national legislation have turned the hope of ever having such a medicine available into a reality.

Naloxone will be available through specialist drug services and also made available to carers and families of opiate users.

Community teams who often encounter overdose will carry the medicine too. This includes rough sleeper support teams and bail hostel staff.

PHD will also be provide training in life support and how to inject the medicine.

Ms Everett Coles added: "You can inject Naloxone straight through clothing. The medicine comes in a pre-filled syringe with clear markings on the side to show the five doses it contains,

"The person administering will give the Naloxone doses at two minute intervals until the casualty shows signs of regaining consciousness. After this they will go to hospital where clinicians will monitor them for a while. Emergency services will then take used kits and will safely dispose of them."

For more information visit publichealthdorset.org.uk/drug-related-deaths