Published: Tuesday, 30th September, 2008 09:30
Grieving mum's drug call
By Mike Farrell
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A GRIEVING mum’s bid to get police officers trained to administer a life-saving drug could go before Parliament.
Peggy Hyslop says Naloxone — an adrenaline-based antidote to a heroin overdose — could prevent other families from going through the hell she has gone through.
Peggy’s son Chad, 19, died in Dumbarton police office in February 2007 after a drug overdose.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) earlier this month raised questions about whether police officers should be able to administer the vital jag, which can be used to revive overdose victims.
Now, Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton and the Vale, is backing Peggy’s calls for police to have access to the antidote.
Peggy, 51, of Castlehill, welcomes her support.
She told the Reporter: “Giving police access to this jag is a good thing.
“It could mean another life is not lost, and that other families won’t have to go through what we have gone through."
Ms Baillie is to write to Chief Constable Stephen House, of Strathclyde Police, and Justice minister Kenny McAskill, about Naxolone.
Ms Baillie said: “If something like this can save one life, and prevent what happened to Chad from happening again, then surely it is worthwhile.”
Currently, Lothian and Borders Police provide nurses in stations over the weekend, while Tayside Police carry out a similar project.
An on-going pilot in Glasgow City Council, where family and friends of drug-users are trained in administering the injection, was also mentioned during the FAI.
Strathclyde Police declined to comment.
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