The lifesaving medication can be accessed 24/7 in emergencies.
South Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership development officer Michelle Wallace and Turning Point Scotland service manager Thomas Hobbs at the new cabinet in Larkhall(Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)
The first public-access naloxone cabinet to go live in Scotland, offering crucial access to the lifesaving medication, has been unveiled in Larkhall.
South Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) and charity Turning Point Scotland have installed the facility near Larkhall Pharmacy on the town’s Union Street in a “pioneering, innovative move to tackle drug-related harm”.
It offers 24/7 access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and operates in the same way as public defibrillators with members of the public able to call the number on the box in an emergency for access and instructions on how to use the kit.
Download the Lanarkshire Live app today
The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.
Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire – iOS – Android
The two organisations describe the cabinet as “a major step in reducing stigma and encouraging community action in response to overdose incidents”, and that its installation “highlights a continued commitment to tackling drug-related deaths and ensuring people have access to support”.
South Lanarkshire ADP strategic lead Rosie Welsh said: “Timely access to naloxone can save lives. This innovative approach aligns with our goal to reduce harms and address stigma in our communities.”
Turning Point’s head of alcohol and other drugs, Patricia Tracey, added: “This cabinet represents a compassionate and evidence-based approach to addressing drug use, aiming to reduce associated stigma and promote community responsibility – we’re proud to lead the way in normalising support for those at risk.”
READ MORE: Award-winning South Lanarkshire drug and alcohol service is made permanentREAD MORE: Opposition to closure of two Lanarkshire bank branches
Larkhall’s cabinet is the first in Scotland to go live and become available for use, with similar naloxone access points having been installed in Aberdeen but which are not yet available for emergency responses.
The distinctive yellow cabinet is weather-resistant and thermostatically controlled; it was developed by Whitford Products and has already proven successful in Wales.
Company director Kieran Whitford said: “Naloxone was designed to return control and safety to communities. We’re thrilled to support this first step in Scotland.”
* Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
READ MORE: Hamilton Judo Club’s Antony Martin is nation’s Disability Coach of the Year