The opioid epidemic is a crisis that Canada cannot afford to ignore. Fortunately, the law enforcement community is showing a commitment to addressing this public health threat head-on.
Efforts to prevent and respond more effectively to opioid-related incidents have ramped up throughout Ontario in recent years. Since 2016, for example, The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)’s own Opioid Working Group (OWG) has been working with local agencies and community partners to devise outreach strategies and supports for individuals impacted by opioid addiction.
“The OWG success to date is largely due to the depth of expertise within the group and their external partnerships. Responding to the opioid crisis has a direct link to frontline activities and processes,” states the OPP in its May 2019 report, noting, “Developing a strategic and effective response is of great importance to our communities and our partners.”
In addition to outreach and education initiatives, all OPP officers are now outfitted with a naloxone intranasal spray to counter the effects of accidental opioid overdoses. They have also undergone additional training, and carry a naloxone card highlighting the steps to administering naloxone, the signs of an overdose, and a reminder of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA) (detailed below).
“The OPP’s first priority is to save lives and to promote public safety,” the agency stated in its 2019 Opioids and Overdoses: Impacts and Strategies Report. “Officers provide necessary education and support for individuals looking for assistance with substance use disorder, and help is available through the Community Addiction and Mental Health Services (CAMHS), ConnexOntario and the Government of Ontario helplines, along with location-specific resources.”
These initiatives are reflected throughout the province. To the north, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has also equipped frontline officers with naloxone kits and provided training on their use since 2017. Moreover, the OPS works with several community partners on an Overdose Prevention Task Force to raise awareness about fentanyl and maintains an education and awareness website, stopoverdoseottawa.ca.
Similar programs have taken shape among the Peel Regional Police and the Caledon OPP. In recent years, the agencies have also been involved in numerous drug education programs (e.g., Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), Reduce Abuse in Drugs, etc.) for elementary and high school students.
“Police community mobilizations units are focused on addressing areas of concern, such as substance use, through community engagement activities, including events that raise public awareness of community safety and well-being related to the opioid crisis,” notes Peel Region in its Opioid Strategy gameplan.
Meanwhile, in Southern Ontario, the Nottawasaga OPP has also made the overdose epidemic a priority through its own multi-faceted strategy. In addition to maintaining a Nottawasaga Opioid Advisory Group and equipping and training officers to use naloxone in the field, it works with community groups to increase accessibility to naloxone, like The Krasman Centre, Youth Haven & Addiction Services of York Region, York Support Services Network – Collaborate Nottawasaga Situation Table, the latter of which addresses people at risk in the community, which could include any youth at risk through opioid use.
“Opioid overdoses are increasingly claiming the lives of Ontarians, and the Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is determined to take every step possible to help our citizens, our communities and our partners, who are impacted by these deadly substances,” says Nottawasaga OPP Constable Cindy Jacome. “Our aim is to provide local resources to our community members in the hopes of increasing awareness of the use — and misuse — of opioids.
These are just some of the many law enforcement agencies that are making concerted (and united) efforts to address Canada’s opioid epidemic. And thankfully, their dedication to the cause is reflected in situation tables, working groups, and detachments throughout the province.
A common code
At the core of the OPPs response is the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA). Introduced in 2017, the Act is designed to “reduce fear of police attending overdose events and embolden people to seek lifesaving assistance and stay with a victim in the event of an overdose.” It does so by providing some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and encouraging anyone involved in these events to call 911 or their local emergency number for help.
Since its introduction, the GSDOA has been used by OPP agencies to inform their response to opioid-related incidents, and promote the use of naloxone in life-threatening situations.
“The growing number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids (powerful pain-relieving drugs, including fentanyl) is a national public health crisis,” states the Government of Canada. “The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act is part of the Government’s comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis. It will help encourage Canadians to save a life during an overdose situation.”
Good work is being done by law enforcement agencies across Ontario and the rest of Canada. And while their methods and partnerships may vary, their good work is helping to bring much needed-help to everyone impacted by the crisis.
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