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'Make drug users carry antidote' | 'Make drug users carry antidote' |
(about 22 hours later) | |
Drug workers have called for users in Swansea to be issued with a heroin antidote to help save their lives. | Drug workers have called for users in Swansea to be issued with a heroin antidote to help save their lives. |
The Swansea Drugs Project wants them to carry Nalaxone and will ask the Welsh Assembly Government to begin a trial. | The Swansea Drugs Project wants them to carry Nalaxone and will ask the Welsh Assembly Government to begin a trial. |
A conference in the city was told that 19 people had died from heroin in the city since last August, while a further 85 had overdosed but survived. | A conference in the city was told that 19 people had died from heroin in the city since last August, while a further 85 had overdosed but survived. |
This is extremely high compared to other areas, according to the project, which has surveyed 150 drug users. | This is extremely high compared to other areas, according to the project, which has surveyed 150 drug users. |
Drugs specialists were in Swansea for a UK-wide conference examining how to reduce the death toll from abuse. | Drugs specialists were in Swansea for a UK-wide conference examining how to reduce the death toll from abuse. |
The project's findings revealed that 57% of those questioned knew friends or relatives who had died from an overdose. | The project's findings revealed that 57% of those questioned knew friends or relatives who had died from an overdose. |
Of the 150 people, 61% said they had themselves overdosed while 53% had done it more than once. | Of the 150 people, 61% said they had themselves overdosed while 53% had done it more than once. |
USERS' VIEWS ON PROBLEM 73% wanted more prescribing places60% called for shorter waiting times for treatment49% wanted wider availability of relevant information40% called for better information about the purity of street drugsSource: The Swansea Drugs Project survey | USERS' VIEWS ON PROBLEM 73% wanted more prescribing places60% called for shorter waiting times for treatment49% wanted wider availability of relevant information40% called for better information about the purity of street drugsSource: The Swansea Drugs Project survey |
The number of deaths since last August was a figure collated by South Wales Police. | The number of deaths since last August was a figure collated by South Wales Police. |
"The number of deaths in Swansea is now a real cause for concern," said Det Ch Insp Peter Azzopardi who was among the speakers at the conference. | |
It illustrated that drug-related deaths in Swansea were "extra high" compared to other areas, according to Ifor Glyn, manager of the Swansea Drugs Project. | It illustrated that drug-related deaths in Swansea were "extra high" compared to other areas, according to Ifor Glyn, manager of the Swansea Drugs Project. |
Mr Glyn said the number of deaths was "absolutely shocking." | Mr Glyn said the number of deaths was "absolutely shocking." |
Nalaxone, he explained, was a heroin antidote and was already carried by most paramedics and ambulance staff. | Nalaxone, he explained, was a heroin antidote and was already carried by most paramedics and ambulance staff. |
He said they would be putting forward a proposal to the Welsh Assembly Government to start a trial in Swansea. | He said they would be putting forward a proposal to the Welsh Assembly Government to start a trial in Swansea. |
"We (would) work with the most chaotic, vulnerable drug users so that they actually carry this drug on them. If someone overdoses, that drug can be administered. | "We (would) work with the most chaotic, vulnerable drug users so that they actually carry this drug on them. If someone overdoses, that drug can be administered. |
"At the end of the day, what we are actually talking about is saving lives" he said. | "At the end of the day, what we are actually talking about is saving lives" he said. |
Society often turned a blind eye when it came to drug users, said Mr Glyn. | Society often turned a blind eye when it came to drug users, said Mr Glyn. |
"We're talking about somebody's children, even parents, brothers or sisters and it's about time that we woke up and faced the reality that people are actually dying." | "We're talking about somebody's children, even parents, brothers or sisters and it's about time that we woke up and faced the reality that people are actually dying." |
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