Ambulance service to expand drug campaign aimed at young people

The Scottish Ambulance Service will expand a campaign urging young people to call 999 in a drug-related emergency.

A pilot of the Trust initiative was initially tried in Glasgow and Fife secondary schools and will now spread across the country.

The campaign, which stresses the importance of calling an ambulance in a drug-related emergency, as well as trust ambulance staff to tell them what has been taken.

Kira Watson, the clinical effectiveness lead for drug harm reduction in the east of Scotland for the ambulance service, said: “The Trust initiative has been designed to show young people that the Scottish Ambulance Service is here to help them.

“As summer holidays and festival season continue, drug-related incidents increase, and we want to make sure young people aren’t afraid to quickly seek help when they or their friends need it.

“Once they have received treatment, we can also make the appropriate referrals for on-going support, information and advice.”

While Scottish drugs minister Christina McKelvie added: “I welcome the expansion of the Trust initiative, which can save lives by supporting and educating young people involved in a drugs emergency.

“Through our £250 million national mission on drugs, we are taking a wide range of measures to reduce harm and save lives – including supporting the opening of a safe, drug consumption facility pilot, widening access to Naloxone and delivering drug-checking facilities which will enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends.”