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Antidote scheme could cut drug-related deaths

Sat, 19 Nov 2016

The Island's mental health service is launching a new campaign in a bid to cut the number of drug-related deaths.

People who are dependent on opioid drugs such as heroin, methadone and morphine will be given training to use an emergency antidote.

The medicine naloxone can counteract the effects of an overdose, reversing life-threatening conditions such as breathing difficulties.

The Drug and Alcohol Team recently held a week-long training programme to teach patients and their next of kin how to administer the antidote and spot signs of an overdose.

32 people have already undergone training, and it's hoped they will encourage more to learn who to administer the medicine.

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