Ambulance Call-Outs to Drug Overdoses in Scotland: Patterns and Practice

Scotland is experiencing a crisis of drug-related deaths (DRD) and no recent Scottish studies have been able to analyse overdose circumstances in detail. Pathology reports can provide limited information on fatal overdoses, but no comparable data is available for non-fatal overdoses to date. A second factor that has not yet been studied in any detail, is the role of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) in responding to suspected drug overdoses, providing on-the-scene emergency clinical care, signposting of services, and providing conveyance to hospital for further assessment (subject to patient acceptance). This mixed methods study will examine SAS records and interview paramedics and other stakeholders to help inform developments in the Scottish response to DRD.

This will be a collaborative project between the University of Stirling, the University of Glasgow and Scottish Ambulance Service.