Developed by leading social enterprise Turning Point, who run Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership alongside Double Impact and Framework, Orrive is a free app that puts life-saving tools directly into people's hands. It offers reliable, up-to-date information on drugs, harm reduction advice and local support services.
The app’s focus on harm reduction refers to compassionate and evidence-based policies, practices and interventions that reduce negative health and social impacts of drug and alcohol use without the requirement of abstinence or a desire to stop using drugs as a condition of support.
It offers reliable, up-to-date information on drugs, harm reduction advice and local support services.
Orrive will be trialled for three months with users being asked to provide feedback to improve the app and then roll it out nationwide.
The app has been developed to include three sections, Find, Learn and Respond.
The Find feature allows users to search for local services that have a needle and syringe provision and those that stock naloxone, a first aid medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
The Learn section is full of reliable guides from sector experts, including information and harm reduction advice about drugs and how to access local services. It includes guidance on how to recognise an overdose, administer naloxone, information on specific drugs, drug testing, and alternatives to injecting.
In Respond, users get a step-by-step guide on how to respond and safely administer naloxone.
In England, anyone can carry a naloxone kit and use it in an emergency to save a life. It is available from drug treatment providers and from some pharmacies. Recently, Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership teamed up with Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacies to make naloxone available in 38 pharmacies across the district.
Holly Pell, a recovery worker at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, recently used her naloxone training to save a life.
“A woman we support came to the Grantham Hub in April. Within five minutes, she took a turn for the worse and became unresponsive and slumped in her seat,” said Holly.
“We knew she had used crack before she came to the service, but we didn’t know what opioid it had been contaminated with.
“My colleagues and I put her in the recovery position and injected a couple of doses of naloxone. She came around briefly but then started seizing again. We needed to give her eight doses before she came round fully by which time the ambulance team had arrived.
“The woman was able to leave on her own and now receives support at the Lincoln hub,”
Holly, who now trains others on how to use naloxone, stressed that it’s always better to use naloxone then not use it, even if you don’t know if someone has overdosed on an opioid.
“I think people are afraid of using it incorrectly, but we know you can't use it incorrectly. Even if somebody's not overdosing on an opiate, it's best to give it just in case because the naloxone won’t cause any harm.”
Adam Sutcliffe, Senior Operations Manager at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership,
“Orrive is an invaluable tool at people’s fingertips that has the potential to save lives.
“With the rise of synthetic opioids and contaminated drugs, the app gives people using substances quick access to accurate information that outlines the harms of specific drugs and how to find their nearest support services.
“We think the app will be a vital resource to service users, staff, and the wider network of organisations and professionals working in the substance use sector.”
Lucy Bond, Harm Reduction Lead at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, said:
“We are so excited to have Orrive in Lincolnshire. Living in such a rural county means that having access to harm reduction at your fingertips can be a lifeline. It is a great tool to aid learning and we hope it will help people get the support they need, as and when they need it.”
To read more about Orrive and download the app, click here.