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. [continues 328 words]
CONVICTS in Nottingham Prison are able to obtain the heroin substitute methadone from vending machines, it has emerged. The machines allow prisoners to receive a personalised dose of methadone automatically as long as they can provide a fingerprint or an iris scan to prove their identity. HMP Nottingham is one of 57 out of 140 jails in the UK that have had the biometric machines fitted so far as part of a ?4million programme – with another 13 jails in line to take part in the scheme. [continues 221 words]
Schools Have Been Forced to Axe the DARE Drugs Education Programme - After a Cash Crisis at the Charity Which Organises It. Drugs Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) was pioneered in the UK in Notts and currently educates 13,000 youngsters in the county. But the DARE charity is UKP 50,000 short of the funding it needs to administer the programme - and has been forced to start charging UKP 10 per pupil. About 30 city and county primaries say they cannot afford the charge and will ditch the programme at the end of this school year. [continues 241 words]
Primary schools have been forced to drop a drugs programme after the charity behind it began charging them UKP 10 per pupil. There are now concerns over the effect on the children missing out. Drugs ruin lives. Crime, addiction or a possible overdose are just some of the tragic consequences of taking them. That is why education is vital. Teaching children at an early age about the dangers can be the difference between them refusing to take them or becoming an addict in later life. [continues 2032 words]
A Post investigation suggests tens of thousands of needles given to Nottingham drug addicts through exchange programmes are not returned. Coun Jon Collins, below, accuses health workers of handing the needles out "like confetti". But health workers say it is unrealistic to expect every needle to be returned. Health Correspondent CHARLES WALKER reports The moment a discarded dirty needle pierced six-year-old Rebecca Unwin's palm is etched into her mother's memory. Because they want to put that rubbish in their veins they do not think about others. Olga Unwin [continues 1832 words]
The law on cannabis is being relaxed on Thursday. But a senior Notts policeman has warned pot smokers that the drug remains illegal -and they may still face arrest. CHARLES WALKER asked Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts how the law is changing and what the county's cannabis users can expect Notts Police are to take a tough line on pot smokers even after the law on cannabis is relaxed this week. Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts said officers would use their discretion - but openly smoking pot "in public view" would not be tolerated and could still result in an "automatic arrest". [continues 953 words]
Police are launching a war on drug crime after a senior officer admitted that Nottingham has a "significant" crack cocaine problem. Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts said a major new bid to rid local streets of drug dealers will begin on September 16. The campaign will include raids on suspected drug dens and the use of police posters carrying the phrase Rat on a Rat, encouraging members of the public to pass on information on drug dealers to the police by phoning the Crimestoppers number. [continues 704 words]
Confusion Over Proposals to Reclassify Cannabis Has Led to a Crackdown on the Problem by Police and Pub Landlords in Nottingham. For years Malcolm Barnes has popped into his local pub for a quiet pint to unwind after a busy day at work. Like a host of others, the 44-year-old father has been visiting the Grey Mare in Clifton for the best part of 20 years. Sometimes he is alone, often he meets friends and on occasions he goes with his wife. [continues 1482 words]
