New campaign urges Somerset to ‘Carry Naloxone’ to end opioid overdoses
Released On 22nd May 2024
A new campaign has launched in Somerset to end opioid overdoses by equipping communities with access to lifesaving information and medicine. The Carry Naloxone campaign promotes a new app which helps people find locations that supply free naloxone – a drug used to reverse opioid overdose. The campaign is aimed at drug users, their friends and family and the wider community.
Opioids are pain-relieving medicines which should only be used under medical supervision, as they carry high risks of dependence and addiction. There are an estimated 1980 people who use opioids in Somerset and are at risk of over-doses. The Carry Naloxone campaign began as a research project funded by Somerset Council, to encourage people who may experience or witness an opioid overdose to carry naloxone with them.
Somerset Council’s Public Health team joined forces with Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service (SDAS) and the University of Bristol to develop the campaign, which emphasises the importance of always carrying a naloxone kit, what steps to take to reduce the risk of overdose and how to respond to an opioid overdose, including video demonstrations.
The campaign features posters strategically placed in key locations across Somerset such as railway stations and supermarkets, ensuring widespread visibility and access to essential information.
The campaign was developed with people from Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service (SDAS) who have lived experience of addiction and dependency and was led by Dr Jennifer Scott (Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol), Dr Jo Kesten (Research Fellow at the University of Bristol), and Deb Hussey (Safer Lives Lead at Turning Point).
