A POLICE drugs strategy has been hailed a success, after it led to more people getting potentially lifesaving treatment for drugs overdoses.

Under the new system, which was introduced across North Yorkshire in December, police are no longer routinely called out by the Ambulance Service to suspected overdoses. Six months on, a survey has shown that 89 per cent of drug and alcohol service users believe people are now more likely to call an ambulance in the event of an overdose - meaning more lives can be saved.

The initiative was organised by North Yorkshire police and ambulance services, in partnership with the North Yorkshire and City of York Drug and Alcohol Action teams and other partners, in an effort to reduce drug-related deaths.

It is based on the idea that drug users, who are often in the company of other users, family members or friends, can be reluctant to call an ambulance after an overdose and that getting help is often delayed because of their concern about police involvement.

A review of the new system so far has shown that the number of call-outs to overdoses in the county rose by 57 between December and March, compared to the same period last year.

Sue Maddison, North Yorkshire and City of York Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Team (DAAT) co-ordinator, said the new system had been a success but that more work still needed to be done to raise public awareness of it.

"This new protocol really demonstrates what innovative thinking and partnership working can achieve," she said.

"The review of staff and service users has illustrated that the protocol is a success and has been widely publicised, which means more lives are being saved in our county.

"However, there is still work to be done to raise awareness of the protocol amongst drug users and their families, and the review has produced some good ideas for how we can do this.

"We will continue to monitor its use, and plan to complete a full review after the first year of the protocol being in place."