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Experts and people with drug harm experience unite to create new app aimed at saving lives


By Alasdair Fraser

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NHS Highland.
NHS Highland.

A new app has been launched in a bid to help reduce drug-related harm and deaths in the Highlands.

Developed by the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (HADP), the information-rich offering has been created in collaboration with those with experience of the scourge of drugs and addiction and a range of experts from NHS Highland and beyond.

Eve MacLeod, NHS Highland’s health improvement specialist, welcomed the creation of the Highland Overdose Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) app as a tool to combat the destructive problem in the north of Scotland.

She said: “The HOPE app is a source of information for people with drug and or alcohol problems, as well as their families or friends, which helps prevent overdose and encourages engagement with services that can help.

“It contains information on what to do in an emergency overdose situation for both depressant and stimulant drugs.

“Harm reduction information and details on how to contact a range of support services are also available on the app. We are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to the development of the HOPE app.”

Deborah Stewart, Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership co-ordinator, said: “The HOPE app will complement and strengthen local action to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for people who use drugs, and help to reduce the risk of harm and death.

“Scotland faces unique challenges from a number of factors, such as high-risk patterns of drug use; a high-risk cohort of vulnerable people; stigma as a barrier to treatment; and, underlying problems such as poverty and inequality.

“HADP urges all our partners and members of the public to use the app and become overdose aware.

“We all have a role to play in reducing drug deaths.”

The HOPE app, a collaborative partnership project involving a number of Scottish and Highland organisations, is free to download, and is available from Android: https://bit.ly/3tawMkA and Apple: https://apple.co/39XfjEi.

The app developer for both is Faff Digital, a multi-award winning app and website developer.


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