28 August 2024
On International Overdose Awareness Day, local man Steve Griffiths is sharing an important message: you can save a life during an opioid overdose.
Steve, who experienced challenges with drugs for 30 years, works for Stoke-on-Trent’s Community Drug and Alcohol Service (CDAS) and is a passionate advocate of a medicine called naloxone. It’s simple to administer, and can be injected into a muscle or sprayed into the nose to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone.
Steve Griffiths, a team leader at CDAS, said:
“It’s really important that anyone carrying naloxone and who is witnessing an overdose feels confident using it. Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and this can be enough to save someone’s life.
“Naloxone also works on synthetic opioids like nitazenes and fentanyl. This is especially important, as we’re seeing an increasing number of illicit drugs being contaminated with synthetic opioids across the UK. This means that if you think someone has overdosed and you’re not sure what they’ve taken, you should use naloxone, especially because naloxone will not cause harm to a person who hasn’t used opioids.
Reflecting on his own personal experiences of challenges with drugs and alcohol, Steve says that he wants other people to know that support is out there.
Steve explains:
“I overdosed when I was using substances, as this was before naloxone was given out by services, and I also lost people I know. The more people who carry and know how to use naloxone, the more we can prevent people dying from overdoses.”
“I just didn’t realise at the time that there was help out there. But there is - and I want anyone who’s struggling with drugs or alcohol to know that CDAS is there to offer support to anyone who needs it.”
CDAS offers free and confidential support services to adults, young people and families struggling with drug or alcohol dependence. Get in touch by calling 01782 283113 or visiting scdas.org.uk.
