RCMP officers across the country will now carry the life-saving drug naloxone at all times.
The drug reverses opioid overdoses and their effects, like drowsiness, slowed breathing, and loss of consciousness. Carrying it will also keep the force safe from run-ins with opioids and opioid users.
In a joint statement, co-chairs of the Joint Task Force on Overdose Response, Dr. Perry Kendall and Clayton Pecknold, said they “strongly commend the RCMP” on this decision.
“For both their member’s safety, as part of their personal protective equipment, but also for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdoses among the members of the public. Adding naloxone to the list of tools at their disposal means they are able to keep themselves and those they serve and protect safe.”
The statement adds that 80% of BC street drugs contain fentanyl, a drug that’s legal dosage, according to Kendall, is only 2 mg. While it has similar effects to heroin (which has a lethal dosage of about 200 mg), he notes there’s only a small difference between that amount of fentanyl it takes to get high and to kill you.
“People who have been used to a certain dose of oxycodone or a certain dose of heroin, they have no clue what they’re actually taking because there’s no quality control. If there is fentanyl in the drug they have no idea how much fentanyl there is there.”
Between January and July this year, 31 Northern British Columbians died from overdoses, 75% of which were due to fentanyl. Just in June, Prince George had 5 fentanyl-related overdoses.
Local RCMP won’t be the only emergency service carrying the drug. The Prince George Fire Department announced in August that firefighters will carry naloxone, and should be able to administer it at the end of the month.
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