Guelph police officers will be issued naloxone after concerns about officer safety due to the rise of fentanyl use in the city.
Naloxone is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, including fentanyl.
A report heading to the Guelph Police Board on Thursday says that 156 front line personnel will be issued naloxone nasal spray as part of their equipment by mid-October.
“In an effort to reduce the risk to our members the Guelph Police Service will be issuing naloxone nasal spray to our front-line personnel to be used in the event that one of our members is in medical distress due to an exposure to fentanyl or other opioids,’ says the report heading to Thursday’s monthly meeting of the board.
The nasal spray is being distributed for use by the officers on themselves should they become exposed to drugs while working and for possible use on overdose victims should the officer arrive on the scene prior to medical personnel.
“A dangerous substance known as fentanyl is becoming increasingly more prevalent in Guelph. This substance is often mixed with other controlled substances such as cocaine and/or heroin either by the drug trafficker prior to sale or by the drug user prior to it being injected or ingested,” says the report, written by inspector Gary Male.
First responders on the University of Guelph campus are already equipped with naloxone nasal spray.
“The number of overdoses in this community have increased significantly since the introduction of fentanyl. Although cases of accidental exposure to fentanyl are rare, there is a risk to first responders as fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin.”
“Policy is currently being drafted by the Research and Development Unit to guide officers in the administration of naloxone.”
The policy will dictate that a report must be filed each time naloxone is administered.
Guelph Paramedic Services will be conducting one-hour training sessions for the officers on the use of naloxone by early October. Single doses will then become part of the officer’s standard equipment.
Nasal naloxone costs $50 per dose. It has shelf life of two years.
