Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2014
Source: Nottingham Evening Post (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Local World
Contact:  http://www.nottinghampost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2647
Author:Peter Blackburn

'MIRACLE DRUG' IS A GROWING LIFESAVER

HEALTH professionals have hailed the increased use of a "miracle drug"
which can immediately reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.

New figures show the East Midlands Ambulance Service's use of Naloxone
has increased by 73 per cent in the last four years, with bosses
saying the drug is now saving hundreds of lives.

Paramedics used the life-saving drug on around 1,340 patients in the
last financial year - a significant rise from an estimated 978 four
years ago.

Naloxone is an 'opioid antagonist' and can block the effects of drugs
like heroin, morphine and diamorphine.

The drugs can cause breathing problems, but Naloxone can reverse these
effects and stop people from dying in just minutes.

EMAS' assistant operations director Dave Winter has experience of
using the drug when he was a paramedic.

He said: "It's quite a key part [of what we do] and a really fantastic
drug. It's effects on things like respiratory arrests after overdoses
are amazing.

"This drug within minutes can turn them into sitting bolt upright -
it's a miracle drug. Absolutely it saves lives, hundreds.

"Certainly in Nottingham we do have a high drug, and heroin,
usage.

"Every now and then we do see a spike in the usage and it's quite
obvious there are some high quality drugs on the street. It could be
that's the cause."

He added: "The first time I ever gave it, it was a shock to me. The
guy went from not breathing to actually chasing me around the room in
minutes."

Naloxone is administered with either a throat spray or injection and
is used widely by paramedics and in hospitals.

In America, some states are considering trying to tackle overdose
problems by making the drug widely available without
prescription.

Dr Gary Winship, who specialises in drug addiction at the University
of Nottingham, said there could be a number of reasons for the rise in
Naloxone usage, including higher quality of drugs or increased number
of people using heroin. He said: "[Heroin use] is quite prevalent in
Nottingham.

"It's a worrying trend and there's a need for more research into why
there has been an increase.

"Still the biggest cause of fatalities is people that are misusing
substances. It remains one of the darkest sides of mental health
vulnerability."

He added: "Emergency doorstep services like this are necessary - they
are doing incredible, life-saving work."
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MAP posted-by: Matt