ABOUT NARCAID

Narcaid is a project which provides specialised drug awareness training for ambulance personnel and other emergency care practitioners. Its aim is to thereby facilitate the competent management of drug related emergencies.

Narcaid was founded in 1998 following a research project into the training needs of pre-hospital carers dealing with drug related incidents. From this developed ECODA - Emergency Care Orientated Drug Awareness. This is targeted information shown to be most helpful in the pre-hospital care environment.

Training in ECODA is unique to this project. Membership of our ECODA Unit includes tutor-supported distance learning packages which are considered suitable for continuing professional development. It is now accredited by the British Paramedic Association and the NARCAID ECODA Unit Training Programme is an RCN Approved Professional Course. It is therefore subject to continuous professional review to ensure the highest level of professional relevance and medical accuracy and utilises a range of specialists from the emergency care and teaching fields.

The ECODA Unit has been running successfully since June 2003, initially in association with Trafford Substance Misuse Services, part of Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust. Students have positively evaluated the service and there has been a steady increase in the purchase of places by various UK ambulance service NHS trusts. There has also been developing interest by overseas emergency medical services as ambulance crews around the world attend an increasing number of drug related incidents.

Narcaid is a member of the UK Harm Reduction Alliance (UKHRA).

PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE

We believe in the sanctity of human life. Drug use brings risk to life and health and we seek to minimise these on the basis that the using patient has the right to expect the same quality of care as any other. We are equally committed to the welfare of the medics who treat them.

To this end we seek to provide the support they need to care for the using patient in a way which respects the needs and vulnerabilities of both parties.

We believe in the need for ongoing research into the effective management of drug related emergencies in pursuit of improved outcomes for medics and patients.

We seek to present the views, experiences and needs of ambulance personnel, in this respect, before relevant government and professional bodies.

The service offered by the Narcaid ECODA Unit is designed for professional ambulance personnel and other emergency care practitioners. Our training programmes are designed to teach drug awareness (rather than medical skills) to inform clinical judgment. Individual clinical judgment must be exercised in each presentation according to pre-existing training.