Edinburgh Napier University

  This study will be a mixed methods process evaluation of a test of change (pilot project) for the carriage, and use, of intra-nasal spray Naloxone by Police Scotland officers.

The evaluation will focus on the implementation and process of the piolet to allow elements of learning and best practice to be identified, for any wider delivery of Naloxone carriage/administration within Police Scotland.

The evaluation framework will consider:
• Police officer attitude towards drug use and people who have a drug dependency;
• Police officer understanding and awareness of drug overdose incidents and Naloxone as a first aid intervention;
• Effectiveness of Naloxone training (considering knowledge/skills of officers both before and after training);
• Experience of Naloxone carriage/use by officers;
• Barriers/facilitators (actual or perceived) impacting on police carriage/use of Naloxone.
• Feedback from local communities (including recovery communities, people who use drugs, their families and/or relevant support services. It is hoped that the approach taken during the Test of Change will be supported by the general public and have a positive impact upon community relations between police and people who use drugs).

Research methods will include baseline and follow-up questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and collection of quantitative data regarding uptake and use of Naloxone and the number of overdoses encountered.

This will be a 6 month project.