28 January 2022
A new taxi will promote overdose awareness and the supply, carriage, and use of naloxone as it travels around Glasgow City over the next year.
The taxi’s new livery has been designed by Scottish Drugs Forum and delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government as part of the ‘How to Save a Life’ campaign, which began on International Overdose Awareness Day last year.
The message ‘We can prevent drug deaths’ is emblazoned across the sides of the taxi along with three steps that members of the public can take to potentially save a life:
- Recognise the signs of an overdose
- Call 999
- Carry naloxone
As well as the eye-catching design of the doors, the taxi’s interior carries information on drug-related deaths and naloxone on its ‘tip sheets’ on the seats. Being an intrinsic part of Glasgow life, the taxi will be seen throughout the city and used by many of its residents. This gives the taxi the potential to promote the campaign and the carriage of naloxone to all its passengers and anyone who sees it on one of its journeys around Glasgow.
Kirsten Horsburgh, Strategy Coordinator (drug death prevention) at SDF says, “This is another component of the campaign in promoting public participation in recognising an overdose and the carriage and use of naloxone.
The support from Glasgow Taxis to take this initiative forward has been extremely positive. Taxi drivers are well placed to promote this message in the communities they serve, and we have been hugely encouraged by the positive reaction from drivers, many of whom have volunteered to carry naloxone kits in their taxis in case of an emergency.”