Training initiative aims to prevent overdose deaths

Published Monday, 19th August 2024

A mass training initiative is to be held in Hartlepool to teach people how to administer a life-saving drug which can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Hartlepool’s Nalox-athon will comprise free drop-in training sessions at a range of community locations with the aim of significantly increasing the number of people able to inject Naloxone.

Organised by Start - Hartlepool’s substance misuse service, the Nalox-athon will be held from 27th-30th August to mark International Overdose Awareness Day 2024, which this year has the theme of “Together We Can” and takes place on Saturday 31st August.

Anyone can attend a training session and there is no need to book in advance. Participants will receive instruction on when and how to use Naloxone and they will be given Naloxone kits to take away upon completion of their training.

Naloxone can restore normal breathing within two to three minutes in a person whose breathing has slowed or even stopped as a result of an opioid overdose. It will not cause harm if given to someone who does not have opioids in their system.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Chair of Hartlepool’s Health and Wellbeing Board and Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “The Hartlepool Nalox-athon is a great idea, and I would encourage as many people as possible to attend the drop-in training sessions so that we can create a large pool of people with the knowledge and skills needed to administer Naloxone correctly.

“Naloxone is really effective at treating the effects of an opioid overdose and can be the difference between life and death.”

The Nalox-athon training sessions will take place at the following times and locations:

Tuesday 27th August

  • University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, 10am-12pm.
  • Hartlepower, Greenbank, Stranton, Hartlepool, 2-4pm.

Wednesday 28th August

  • Salaam Centre, Murray Street, Hartlepool, 10am-12pm.
  • LilyAnne’s Wellbeing Café, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, 10am-12pm.
  • Scott Grange (run by Home Group), Grange Road, Hartlepool, 2-4pm.

Thursday 29th August

  • Women’s Health Hub, The Arches, Park Road, Hartlepool, 10am-2pm.
  • St Aidan’s Kitchen, St Aidan’s Church, Oxford Street, Hartlepool, 9-11am.

Friday 30th August

  • Recovery Connections Women’s Group, Greenbank, Stranton, Hartlepool, 10am-12pm.

Another event organised to mark International Overdose Awareness Day is a remembrance walk which will take place from the band stand in Maritime Avenue at Hartlepool Marina to Seaton Carew bus station on Friday 30th August from 2-4pm. Afterwards, there will be a remembrance of people’s loved ones who have lost their lives to overdose. Some of the organisations involved will be holding creative sessions in the run-up to the walk, decorating rocks to raise awareness of overdose and commemorate those who have lost their lives. The rocks will be placed on the beach. Anyone is welcome to attend.