Two lives saved through Naloxone trial

We’ve saved two lives this year as part of a pilot which sees us carry a nasal spray that brings people back from potentially fatal opioid overdoses.

In February, drug and alcohol service provider Change Grow Live (CGL) trained 93 of our frontline officers to carry Nyxoid – a nasal spray version of Naloxone.

We received 100 kits, made possible through Warwickshire County Council’s use of central government grant funding to  support such initiatives for drug and alcohol services.

Frontline officers in a variety of roles, including neighbourhood PCs and those who respond to 999 calls, have been carrying the kits since. 

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Cook, who has been leading the pilot, said: “The preservation of life is at the very heart of our officers’ duties, and this is an incredible step towards helping to protect vulnerable people in our communities.

“Our officers have already given Nyxoid twice since the start of this trial.

“The first incident saw officers from Nuneaton administer Nyxoid to an unconscious 40-year-old woman in the town on 1 April.

“The woman was taken to hospital having overdosed and made a full recovery.

“Then, on 25 April, Stratford officers administered Nyxoid to an unconscious 34-year-old man in Bidford-On-Avon.

“Again, the man made a full recovery after it was believed he had taken heroin.

“That is two vulnerable people who were experiencing a potentially fatal overdose who may well not be here were it not for this partnership working.

“A special thanks to Change Grow Live for not only delivering the training and supplying the Nyxoid kits, but raising awareness of the risks associated with opioids.

“I’d also like to thank our public health partners, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Warwickshire County Council, for collaborating on this project.

“Over the coming months we will be monitoring and reviewing our use of Naloxone, with a view to training up more of our officers.”

Kirsten Lord, Warwickshire Services Manager for Change Grow Live, said: “Providing naloxone kits and harm reduction training to our partner agencies in Warwickshire is a vital tool in reducing the harm caused by opioids, and we're proud to support this effort, especially when it helps save lives and strengthens our local community.”