Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Scottish government launches campaign to raise awareness about drug overdose

The Scottish Government and Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) have launched a campaign to raise public awareness about drug overdose and the life-saving medication naloxone.

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids-related overdose.


The launch of the national campaign marks the International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31).

It will use TV, radio adverts and billboards at transport hubs and shopping centres to persuade people to visit the StopTheDeaths website and learn about signs of an overdose.

The website will also give information about how to get a naloxone kit and provide training to use it.

Scottish Drugs policy minister Angela Constance said: “As I have said before, the number of deaths in Scotland is heart-breaking and I am determined that every penny of the £250 million we will spend on the crisis over the next five years will make a difference.

According to government data, in 2020, 1,339 people died because of drug overdose in Scotland, marking the seventh consecutive year of a record number of drug-related deaths.

She said: “It will help inform a wider audience of what naloxone is, how it works and how they can use it in an emergency.

“Naloxone is one of a wide range of measures being used to address the public health emergency of drugs deaths, but it plays an important role”.

Kirsten Horsburgh, Strategy Coordinator for Drug Death Prevention at Scottish Drugs Forum, said: “In the time people wait for an ambulance the first steps can be made that can save that person’s life.  Recognising that someone may be experiencing an overdose, dialling 999 and administering naloxone are all part of the response that gives that person the best chance of recovery.

“In Scotland there is widespread access to naloxone kits and training and it’s crucial that as many people as possible get involved.”

More For You

​The next generation of BD Rowa Smart launched

The latest BD Rowa™ Smart introduces a more intuitive user interface.

Photo credit: BD Rowa

BD Rowa unveils next-generation smart dispensing robot with sustainable design

Leading medical technology company BD Rowa has announced the launch of the next generation of its smart dispensing robot, offering enhanced convenience with a sustainable design.

Currently in its final development phase, the latest BD Rowa™ Smart introduces a more intuitive user interface designed to streamline operations and enhance the user experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent Prescribing: Government aims to complete pathfinder programme evaluation by autumn 2025

Pharmacist prescribers at 210 ‘pathfinder’ sites were allowed to trial prescribing models within integrated primary care services.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Independent prescribing: Pathfinder programme evaluation to be completed by autumn, says Kinnock

Health minister Stephen Kinnock has revealed that the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme could be completed by Autumn 2025.

Kinnock was responding to a question from James Naish, Labour MP for Rushcliffe, who asked what steps the minister was taking to ensure continued support for the Pathfinder Programme and independent prescribing to maximise direct prescribing capacity in England.

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS pharmacy funding not enough 2025: £3.073B deal with £1.99B gap fuels reform debate.

Funding alone isn’t going to be enough to save community pharmacy

Photo credit: gettyimages

New funding contract ‘not enough’ to release the sector from financial blackhole

After almost a year without an agreement, a new funding contract for community pharmacy was finally announced yesterday (31 March).

The settlement raises the baseline annual funding for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) in 2025/26 to £3.073 billion, with an additional £215 million secured to continue Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free morning-after pill at pharmacies to end postcode lottery for patients

Pharmacy technicians will be allowed to supply of drospirenone for contraception under PGD,

gettyimages

Pharmacy contract: Free morning-after pill to be available at pharmacies soon

The UK government has announced that, for the first time ever, the ‘morning-after pill’ or emergency contraceptive pill will be available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a record £3.073 billion funding package for community pharmacies in 2025/26, alongside an additional £215 million to sustain Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal College status: The PDA calls for ‘meaningful and collaborative dialogue’

The profession’s success will depend on collaboration across all sectors, says PDA.

gettyimages

Royal College vote: Less than 7% of GB pharmacists in favour, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for moving too quickly to a ballot on its proposed transition to a Royal College, arguing that it resulted in low participation from pharmacists in Great Britain.

Announcing the results of the special resolution vote, the RPS said that the outcome was a “clear mandate” in favour of the transformative change.

Keep ReadingShow less