Where Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent officials stand on naloxone

In2018 there were 51 deaths related to opioid overdoses in Windsor-Essex.

In 2019, data has so far only been released up until June, and38 people are suspected to have died in the region from opioid-related overdoses.

Across Ontario from June 2016 to March 2018, there were more than 91,000 naloxone kits distributed through pharmacies. According to a study conducted by St.Michael's Hospital of Unity Health in Toronto, half of those kits went to people with no known opioid exposure.

In Windsor-Essex, there were 824 kits distributed for every 100,000 people between July 2017 and June 2018.

Across the region, there's a mixed bag in which city professionals police, fire and paramedics carry or administer naloxone.

Essex-Windsor EMS numbers show an increase in naloxone use

In 2019, Essex-Windsor EMS administered naloxone 193 times a 21 per cent increase from 2018.

In context, Essex-Windsor EMS responded to 746 drug or alcohol overdose calls in 2019. That means naloxone was administered in 25 per cent of overdose calls.

According to Bruce Krauter, chief of Essex-WindsorEMS, the numbers show an increase in naloxone use over the last few years:

• 51 instances in 2014.
• 48 instances in 2015.
• 58 instances in 2016.
• 126 instances in 2017.
• 159 instances in 2018.
• 193 instances in 2019.

"Our paramedics are highly skilled and trained and make decisions based on their experience and their situational awareness," said Krauter."The decision to use naloxone would be based on a number of factors, including the history of the patient and the environment they are in, the vital signs and inability to secure an airway."

When asked if Krauter believed other first responders, such as police officers or firefighters, should carry naloxone, he did not answer directly.

"Naloxone is a valuable medical tool used by highly-skilled and trained paramedics with Essex-Windsor EMS in response to the opioid overdoses in our community," he said.

Windsor police, fire not carrying or trained in naloxone use

Windsor Police Service and Windsor Fire and Rescue (WFRS) do not carry or provide training on naloxone kits.

Fire chief Stephen Laforet was unavailable for comment about why WFRS have decided not to carry naloxone.

Windsor police chief Pam Mizuno previously said she hasn't "closed the door" on officers carrying naloxone, but local officers remain the only ones in Ontario not carrying the product.

LaSalle police carry naloxone, but have never used it

In LaSalle, police officers do carry naloxone but have never had to administer it since it was mandated in 2017.

Community and corporate affairs officer Terry Seguin said it's important for officers to be able to save another person's life who may be experiencing an overdose.

The kits in LaSalle were first implemented for "selfish" reasons, according to Seguin.

"We may come into contact with the substance that they may be carrying, and it's very possible that our officers begin to overdose just from simply touching the substance unknowingly," said Seguin.

Chatham-Kent police trained on using naloxone

Chatham-Kent police were trained by Chatham-Kent Public Health on how to use naloxone through a detailed presentation.

According to Sgt. AlbertPilbeam, Chatham-Kent police were trained in the fall of 2017, and all new hires since have been trained as well.

"We go into great detail to explain the symptoms and things you can observe to make sure we're looking at the correct reason for use for the naloxone product," said Pilbeam.

Pilbeam said statistics have shown a rise in calls for service, with 78 calls in 2019 for suspected opioid overdose service 21 of those resulted in naloxone being administered.

"We are very fortunate our chief is a forward-thinking person," said Pilbeam. "We're fortunate to have that in place."

Pilbeam said the training to administer naloxone includes a hands-on application and takes about two hours.

Ontario Provincial Police saved more than 100 lives with naloxone since 2017

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who provide police services to Leamington, Kingsville and Tecumseh, trained all of itsfront-line officers on naloxone and provided kits to carry in September 2017. Since then, OPP officers have saved 102 lives by administering naloxone.

According to OPP data, there was a 121 per cent increase in overdose occurrences attended by the OPP from 2016 to 2018.