A PHARMACIST has told of the moment she saved the life of a man who had collapsed after suffering a drug overdose.

Carron Grogan administered four doses of Naloxone, used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose to the man, whose lips had turned blue.

The treatment worked and he was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

The pharmacist said he came back to the shop to thank her for saving his life and the experience has had “a big impact on both of us.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say at least 18 people have been revived by community pharmacies in the board area in the last two years with the use of Naloxone.

A plan is now underway to equip all community pharmacies with emergency kits and train staff in their use.

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Carron, who is based in Renfrew, said: “Training for an emergency is one thing but putting this training into action is another matter.

“It started as a normal day but some of my clients came into the shop, saying their friend had collapsed nearby.

“When I got to the young man, his lips were already blue so I began administering the Naloxone, while his friends called an ambulance.

“ Sometimes it takes more than one dose to be successful and in the end I administered four doses while we waited for the ambulance. Thankfully it worked and the young man was revived and was taken off to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He survived.

“I had training in Naloxone, but the idea was for us to supply this to drug users, their friends and family to have at home for this kind of eventuality. Little did I know I would use it myself.

“While I worked in the pharmacy the client came back in regularly to talk to me and thank me for that day. It had a big impact on both of us.”

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Dr Carole Hunter, lead pharmacist within NHSGGC’s Alcohol and Drug Services, oversaw the introduction of the take home Naloxone programme within community pharmacists in the area.

She said: “When we initially introduced the supply of naloxone from community pharmacies we didn’t anticipate that pharmacists and their staff would be involved in actually administering the drug.

“There are now 18 confirmed reports of pharmacy staff administering naloxone.

“The number of drug related deaths in Glasgow and Scotland has reached unprecedented levels.

“This is a public health emergency that requires a response from all sections of the community and it is clear that community pharmacies are playing their part in helping to address this emergency situation."