Adam Dance, Member of Parliament for Yeovil, has undergone training to administer naloxone, a vital emergency antidote for opioid overdoses, as part of a campaign led by The Salvation Army to increase public access to this lifesaving drug.
The training occurred during an event at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, June 18, where Dance joined advocates urging for naloxone to be readily available in public venues such as pubs, bars, nightclubs, train stations, and shopping centres. This push comes in response to a dramatic 93 per cent rise in drug-related deaths across the South West over the past decade.
Naloxone, administered via nasal spray or injection, rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, including those caused by heroin and prescription painkillers, providing critical time until emergency medical services arrive. Although anyone is legally permitted to use naloxone in an emergency, a recent Salvation Army survey found that only 12 per cent of adults in the South West are aware of this life-saving treatment.
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Adam Dance emphasized the importance of naloxone availability for rural communities, stating, “I have supported the use of naloxone for some time through my involvement in public health. It is vital that this antidote is more widely accessible to save more lives, especially in rural areas where access to emergency services can be delayed.”
Lee Ball, Director of Addictions Services at The Salvation Army, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Every drug overdose death is a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy. Naloxone is a safe, effective, and easy-to-use antidote that can save lives. Our 160 years of experience supporting people with addiction shows the critical need for naloxone to be as accessible as defibrillators or EpiPens in public spaces. Making naloxone widely available alongside first aid kits is a crucial step in reducing overdose fatalities.”
The Salvation Army is advocating for a government-funded national awareness campaign and the mandatory carrying of naloxone by all frontline police officers. Additionally, they urge the provision of take-home naloxone kits for individuals known to use opioids upon release from hospital or prison, and for every local authority to adopt a naloxone access policy.