Recently, eight Companions and five staff members took part in naloxone training with Bristol Drugs Project (BDP). Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, giving emergency services more time to respond. It could be the difference that might save a person’s life.
The training provided practical, hands-on guidance on how to recognise an overdose, administer naloxone and respond in emergencies. We had very positive feedback from Companions and they asked a lot of questions throughout the session.
One of our support workers, Slawek, attended the session and said that the training was important for Emmaus Bristol to do, because:
In our city, there is no supervised consumption room available, which leaves many people to use opioids on the streets or in isolated or hidden places. This increases the risk of overdoses happening in areas where immediate help may not be available. Naloxone has the power to quickly reverse an opioid overdose, offering a vital chance to save a life in an emergency. By training more people to administer naloxone, we can create a network of support and care, increasing the chances that someone nearby can step in and provide life-saving help until medical responders arrive.
Having a naloxone kit in our community, along with the knowledge to use it, is a small but crucial step towards being ready to help during life-threatening emergencies. If you’re interested in learning how to use naloxone, BDP offers free training and naloxone kits to anyone who may come into close contact with an individual who uses opioids. Visit bdp.org.uk/naloxone for more information.
