Drug users warned to call
999 for overdose victims

Officers in North Yorkshire Police have dealt with a series of drug-related deaths in recent years and admitted that some of fatalities could have prevented if an ambulance had been called earlier.

An awareness campaign was launched yesterday to highlight a protocol that means police will only attend overdoses in “exceptional circumstances”, such as when there has been a fatality or when there is a perceived risk to paramedics.

Detective Inspector Allan 
Harder, a member of North Yorkshire Police’s major crime unit, said: “Time is a crucial factor in overdose cases and any delay in calling for medical assistance can mean the difference between life and death. Our main concern is that people receive the care 
that they need as quickly as possible.”

The protocol was introduced in 2007 after concerns were raised that drug users were failing to report overdoses as paramedics would often call the police to incidents.

“The changes in procedure mean officers will only be contacted in suspicious circumstances, and the decision has been taken to raise the protocol’s profile after a review of drug-related deaths.

But Det Insp Harder added: “There have been deaths through drug overdoses across North Yorkshire that might have been prevented had an ambulance been called earlier. By promoting this 999 protocol, we hope that people will do the responsible thing and call an ambulance if they think someone may be experiencing an overdose –it might save their life.”

The latest drug-related death in North Yorkshire happened in April after Polly Rodgers, 16, is thought to have taken amphetamines. Paramedics were called to a house in Tang Hall in York, but she was pronounced dead following attempts to resuscitate her.

The awareness campaign, which is being staged until Friday, is being led by the police and substance misuse partnerships, and includes support from organisations including NHS North Yorkshire and York, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, councils and drug treatment services.