City’s police need to carry naloxone
Re: Data does not support need for police to carry naloxone, Dilkens says, by Dave Battagello, Nov. 13th
Mayor Drew Dilkens was reported in the article as saying: “there is nothing presented to me that shows arming our officers with naloxone is the right thing to do.” Allow us to enlighten him.
The overwhelming consensus among those who treat opiate addictions, such as ourselves, is the evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of naloxone kits in the community, particularly with use by first responders such as police.
There are a number of carefully conducted studies that support this conclusion that are readily available in the public domain and we would be pleased to help Mr. Dilkens find them.
Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of police forces in North America in communities afflicted by the current epidemic of opiate overdoses have responded to the crisis by training personnel and equipping them with naloxone kits — which, by the way, are paid for by the provincial government.
Indeed, the president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of police has written: “By making naloxone kits available to all our officers, police personnel will be better equipped to save lives.”
Mr. Dilkens’ unfamiliarity with evidence, which supports police in Windsor joining with colleagues almost everywhere else, is an unacceptable excuse for further delay.
Karen Waddell, executive director of the House of Sophrosyne; Dr.
Tony Hammer, clinical lead, Rapid Response to Access to Addiction Medicine Programme of Windsor-essex.