PARAMEDICS have helped save more than 50 lives in Inverclyde by handing out an emergency medicine to reverse drug overdoses in Inverclyde.

Local ambulance crews are now carrying Naloxone kits, so they can give them to those at risk of overdosed, or to their friends and families, for future use.

Now MP Ronnie Cowan, a leading figure in calls for major drug law reform, is demanding all emergency services - including the police - carry them locally.

Inverclyde has the third highest drugs death rate in the country, with 33 people losing their lives last year.

Top TV star Greenock actor Martin Compston recently fronted a Scottish Drug Forum campaign supporting a rollout of take home Naloxone kits.

Mr Cowan said: “I am on record as saying that Inverclyde should have been one of the areas included in the trials by Police Scotland.

"Now that the trials are coming to their conclusion, I would expect Police Scotland to promote a nationwide roll out.

"An ongoing public awareness programme is currently taking place, voiced by local actor Martin Compston and promoted by the Scottish Drugs Forum.

"Hopefully through this many more people will be confident enough to carry Naloxone and be prepared to administer it should the need arise.

"If we are to address the horrendous number of drug related deaths in Inverclyde then Naloxone has an important role to play.”

The Scottish Ambulance Service says two thirds of its workforce now hand out take home kits to those most at risk.

A spokesperson for the SAS said: "In Inverclyde, 53 kits have been issued by ambulance crews since September 2020, helping to save lives and positively influencing a reduction in drugs death across Scotland.

"Almost two thirds of Scotland’s ambulance clinicians have been trained in supplying Take-Home Naloxone to people who may witness an overdose.

"SAS is working closely with health boards, treatment services and people with lived and living experience to connect people who use drugs with appropriate support services."

Police Scotland said: "The findings of the [trial] evaluation will be used to make a recommendation as to whether Naloxone may be more widely rolled out for carriage by police officers in Scotland."