Reducing Drug Related Deaths

A Joint Protocol between:

• Cambridgeshire Constabulary
• East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust
• Peterborough Drug Action Team
• Cambridgeshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The drivers for this protocol are contained within the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Report 'Reducing Drug Related Death' published in June 2000*. The joint partnership formulating this protocol, in the absence of sufficient local data, accept the findings and guidance of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

1.2 The partnership has given due consideration to the Government response to the ACMD report as well as other guidance relevant to reducing drug-related death. It is also understood that there are many other factors that contribute to reducing drug-related death and that this protocol cannot be a stand-alone document. It will need review and consideration within DAT sub groups for further work to provide ongoing impact.

1.3 This protocol takes account of the fact that the ACMD report concluded that drug users who overdosed were often in the company of other drug users at the time of overdose. The nature of opiate overdose is such that time is of the essence when seeking to reverse the effects of such an overdose with Naloxone.

1.4 Those drug users present when someone overdoses are often deterred from calling an ambulance through fear of the possible consequences for them of police involvement. They may call, they may spend time clearing up illegal drugs and paraphernalia and then call or they may leave and not call at all.

* The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Reducing Drug Deaths, 2000. The Stationery Office.

2.0 AGREED ACTION WITHIN THE PROTOCOL

2.1 The partners to this protocol therefore agree that the following principle will be implemented by the emergency services and will be supported by the Drug Action Teams.

2.2 The Ambulance Service will not contact the Police in respect of reported drug overdoses unless one or more of the following exceptions is believed to have occurred:

a) There is a death at the scene or at any time whilst in the care of the Ambulance Service

b) There is any evidence of harm arising to children or other vulnerable persons i.e. a person who is in the care of the patient (older person) and who may need further support.

c) The ambulance crew are at risk as a result of a potential violent situation, or if attending a known risk address or location

2.3 If ambulance staff at the scene of any overdose believe that there are suspicious circumstances including indication that the situation has arisen from other than self-administered drug misuse they will ask for police to attend.

2.4 The police control rooms will assess the information provided from any telephone call relating to drug overdose. Where it seems that an initial response by the Ambulance Service is appropriate and that the criteria at 2.2 above are not believed to apply they will contact the Ambulance Service to provide initial attendance unless the caller specifically requests attendance by the police.

2.5 The response by emergency services control room staff will be cognisant of the fact that an emergency call may relate to a drug related incident or drug related harm. Emergency service control room staff will carry out more detailed questioning of all callers where a drug related incident is reported to assess whether it is relevant for ambulance attendance rather than initial or joint police attendance. This protocol will need to be circulated to control room staff and to be subject of briefings and training for future control room staff.

2.6 This protocol does not transfer any duty of care to the Police Service, where the attendance of the Police Service has not been requested in relation to a drugs overdose.