19 overdoses have been reversed following the introduction of a 'potentially life-saving' antidote.

Since November last year, officers from Northumbria Police's Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Response Policing Teams have been carrying naloxone.

This nasal spray serves as an emergency antidote for overdoses caused by heroin and other opiates or opioids, such as fentanyl, methadone, and morphine.

The spray was first administered to a 26-year-old man in the Newcastle area on December 23 last year.

Since then, it has been utilised 18 more times.

Chief inspector Rob Bosson, of Northumbria Police, said: "The results since the force rolled out the use of naloxone have been hugely positive.

"We have already seen 19 uses, which I see as 19 lives saved, with the spray helping to restore a person’s breathing and buying more time for medical intervention by ambulance and hospital teams."

Officers, often the first responders to incidents, have been trained to recognise symptoms of opioid overdose and can quickly administer naloxone.

The spray causes no harm to individuals mistakenly believed to have taken opioids.

Chief Inspector Bosson added: "However, it is crucial to stress that naloxone is not considered the solution to drug-related incidents in our communities, and we continue to work with our combatting drugs partnership to reduce these associated harms."