Both for their own protection and for the safety of potential drug overdose victims, all frontline OPP officers will soon be carrying naloxone kits.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can reverse an opioid overdose for approximately 20 minutes to one hour, depending on the strength of the opioid, giving the victim time to receive medical care.
"With the increased prevalence of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and synthetic opioid powders on our streets, there is a very real danger of exposure and these steps are being taken to ensure the safety of those we serve and our officers," OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes is quoted as saying.
Each frontline officer is being issued a kit with two doses of naloxone nasal spray while on duty, while members of selected specialized units, such as Drug Enforcement Units and Community Street Crime Units, will each be issued a personal kit.
Officers will also be issued personal protective equipment for using during drug searches, seizures and sampling. Frontline members will be required to wear protective equipment including a respiratory mask, safety glasses or goggles, nitrile gloves and long sleeve shirt or jacket.
Health Canada testing determined, the provincial police service reported, fentanyl was present in 114 OPP seizures in 2016 from the mainly rural communities the OPP serves, which police say demonstrates the powerful opioid is an emerging and ongoing concern in all parts of Ontario.
Testing results for 2017 are not yet available, OPP said, but the number of seizures with fentanyl present appears to be similar to 2016 levels.
While the primary purpose of the naloxone is for use if an officer is accidentally exposed to an opioid in the course of his or her work, OPP said if there is a life-threatening situation and emergency medical services are not immediately available, officers will be trained to use it on a member of the public.
"Equipping OPP officers with naloxone kits will give vulnerable people timely access to this life-saving drug,” Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Marie-France Lalonde said. “When someone is overdosing, minutes can make the difference between life and death. This initiative will save lives."
OPP members will receive training on the use of naloxone, the protective equipment and new procedures on how to handle any suspected controlled substance over the summer. The OPP is currently in the procurement process to acquire the naloxone kits.
