\n As these substances become more common in the illegal drugs market, Better Days Bolton is urging people to carry naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and prevent a tragedy.\n<\/p>\n
\n Better Days Bolton, which provides support for people affected by alcohol and drug use, is encouraging more people to carry naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.\n<\/p>\n
\n Staff at the centre say naloxone is not just for healthcare professionals or people who use drugs.\n<\/p>\n
\n Instead, they want more members of the public to understand how it works and how simple it can be to use.\n<\/p>\n
\n Jon Findlay, National Harm Reduction Lead for Waythrough, said many drug-related deaths could be prevented if more people had access to naloxone.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: \u201cNine times out of ten, most drug-related deaths are preventable, which is why we have naloxone which temporarily reverses the effects of opiate overdose.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIf more people carry that and make sure that people use with somebody who knows that they carry naloxone, it gives that person that chance of that overdose not being a fatal overdose.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Findlay warned that stronger synthetic opioids are increasingly appearing in the illegal drugs market, creating greater risks for users.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: \u201cWe’re seeing more potent synthetic opioids into the market which are catching people out.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPeople who have been using drugs for years and years and years suddenly the drugs they’re buying have these contaminants in them that potentially will stop them breathing a lot quicker.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Naloxone works by temporarily blocking opioid receptors in the brain and can reverse overdoses involving drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, morphine and methadone. It has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system.\n<\/p>\n
\n Better Days Bolton (Image: Better Days Bolton)\n<\/p>\n
\n Martha-Rose Hale, marketing and communications officer at Waythrough, said one of the campaign’s biggest messages is that anyone can carry naloxone and potentially save a life.\n<\/p>\n
\n She said: \u201cI don’t have to be a medical<\/a> professional to carry something that could save someone’s life but to me that is mind blowing.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThat is a massive part of Bolton’s mission, screaming about the fact that people should be carrying it because everyone can.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWhy wouldn’t you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n