Firefighters across Hertfordshire are set to carry a vital anti-opioid medication by the end of the year, following a successful local trial that has already saved a life.

Naloxone, a drug that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, was recently used by Watford Fire Station crews during a multi-agency trial across stations in Watford and Three Rivers. Firefighters there became the first in the county to administer the medication after finding a middle-aged man unresponsive near their station.

Thanks to their swift action, and the use of Naloxone nasal spray, the man's condition was stabilised before paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service arrived to take him to hospital.

The initiative comes amid rising drug-related deaths across the UK. In Hertfordshire alone, 71 deaths were recorded in 2023 – the highest level in four years. According to the Office for National Statistics, the county's increase between 2010 and 2023 is above the national average, with opiates remaining the main substance involved.

Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, praised the move:

"Our firefighters provide a lifesaving service that Hertfordshire residents truly value and with them now being able to administer medication such as Naloxone they have added another string to their bow.

"The trial is a powerful example of how our collaborative efforts with Public Health, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Change Grow Live and East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust are making a tangible difference. It's great for residents to know that all fire stations will be able to use this medication by the end of this year."

The county council says the roll-out of Naloxone will mean every fire station in Hertfordshire – including Hitchin – will be able to provide the emergency treatment before the year ends.

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Anyone worried about their own substance use, or someone else's, can find advice and support via Hertfordshire County Council's drugs and alcohol services.