Halton Police Expand Naloxone Distribution Program to Frontline Officers

By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

The Halton Police have announced expanding their naloxone kit distribution program to include select frontline officers and support personnel in an ongoing effort to combat the opioid crisis affecting Halton and surrounding areas.

The officers assigned to the Service’s Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT), Community Mobilization Officers, and support workers will participate in a new pilot program. This initiative aims to provide free naloxone kits to individuals they encounter daily without requiring personal information or record-keeping. Thirty officers and personnel have undergone comprehensive training on the use of naloxone kits, emphasizing not only administration techniques but also connecting individuals with additional community resources.

This expansion builds upon a successful pilot program with Halton Region Public Health, where naloxone kits have been available free of charge and confidentially at HRPS’ Central Lock-up (CLU) in Oakville since November 2022. Over 180 public members have received naloxone kits from the Service’s 18 specially-trained Special Constables.

Naloxone is a crucial drug that can reverse the effects of opioid poisoning temporarily. Each kit provided contains two doses of naloxone nasal spray, along with essential accessories such as non-latex gloves, a rescue breathing barrier, and informational pamphlets. Additionally, recipients will receive a card directing them to further resources, including HRPS’s Overdose Awareness webpage and instructional videos on naloxone kit usage.

Chief of Police Stephen Tanner expressed the Service’s dedication to public safety through initiatives like the naloxone kit distribution program. The program’s success demonstrates a community demand for this life-saving intervention, and the Halton Police are proud to collaborate with local partners to increase access and reduce the stigma associated with naloxone.

The Halton Police Board, Halton Region Public Health, and the Ministry of Health’s Ontario Naloxone Program all support the administration of naloxone by frontline officers and the distribution of naloxone kits, reflecting a unified effort to address the opioid crisis.