Vancouver Island police confirm province cutting funds for officer naloxone kits
Three Vancouver Island police departments say the province will no longer pay for their naloxone supplies — a life-saving medication officers use frequently, in the midst of the overdose crisis.
The chief of the Oak Bay Police Department (OBPD) said B.C.’s Public Safety Ministry notified police agencies of the funding cut in April of last year.
"Inventories are now expiring, so police departments are now contemplating how to best manage this," OBPD Chief Ray Bernoties wrote in an email to CTV News.
"OBPD views this as a serious issue, as our members do encounter overdoses," he said. "There are other [police departments] who will likely experience an even greater impact."
The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) also confirmed the province will no longer cover the costs of naloxone, nor the cost of training police on how to use it.
"Given the number of opioid overdoses our officers see, our provincially-supplied naloxone stores were quickly depleted," said VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko.
"We are part of our community and we all work together to help save lives in the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic," he said.
VicPD is now using its own budget to cover the cost of the medication.
The Saanich Police Department said its naloxone kits expire at the end of the year, so it will also replenish its own supply.
Many police services use the nasal spray form of naloxone. The kits can cost about $120 each, with two doses inside, according to the police department.
"Which is… obviously a significant cost," Saanich Police Const. Markus Anastasiades told CTV News.
"However, we know that they’re vital for saving lives and we want our officers to have it at their disposal," he said.
PROVINCE RESPONDS
On Wednesday afternoon, B.C.'s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said it would "ensure officers continue to have access to naloxone kits."
The ministry did not explain how it plans to do that Wednesday.
"The Ministry’s Policing and Security Branch supported front-line police officers with funding for naloxone kits for four years," reads a statement from the ministry.
"Naloxone is also supplied to harm reduction sites, pharmacies, corrections, etc. for distribution to people who are likely to experience or witness and respond to an overdose," adds the statement. "All paramedics responding to an overdose have access to a supply of Naloxone."
View Royal Fire Rescue Chief Paul Hurst said fire departments’ funding for naloxone remains unchanged.
In the first half of this year, at least 1,011 people died of a suspected drug overdose, according to the provincial coroners service. B.C.’s Health Ministry declared overdose deaths a public health emergency in 2016.
"Police have administered naloxone hundreds of times and saved countless lives," Bernoties said.
Kathleen Radu, an advocate with Moms Stop the Harm, said it would be irresponsible not to supply police officers with naloxone kits.
"It makes no sense to me that we are now putting a price on the lives of these people," said Radu, whose son, Morgan, died of an overdose last year.
Police are often first to respond to overdoses, she said, regularly preventing drug toxicity deaths.
"Can you imagine what those numbers will be if we don’t have… our police officers having access to those naloxone kits?" Radu said. "They’re going to skyrocket."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.