Drug reversing effects of opioid overdose to be handed out in England

Exclusive: naloxone will be distributed on the streets as part of pilot scheme in Redcar and Cleveland

A life-saving drug that reverses the effect of an overdose of an opioid, such as heroin, is to be handed out on the street to people in England under a pilot scheme to tackle the record numbers of drug-related deaths.

The main life-threatening effect of an opioid overdose is to slow down or stop breathing - the drug naloxone blocks this effect and reverses breathing difficulties.