London police considering Naloxone kits for front-line officers

London police officials are considering arming officers with Nalxone kits. 

But London Deputy Chief Darryl Longworth called on the province to fund the kits, which act as a temporary antidote to opioid overdose. 

​Giving officers the kits is "being strongly considered at this point," Longworth said. "We have never been opposed to issuing Naloxone kit to our officers for use on the street but we were hoping the government might step in." 

Only a handful of police services give the kits to their officers. The OPP announced this summer its officers would carry the kits.

• OPP officers to be equipped with Naloxone kits
• Western students trained to treat opioid overdoses

The kits are also being carried by Western University first-aid emergency responders. 

While Naloxone kits are available for free at pharmacies for individuals with an Ontario health card, they have to be purchased by paramedics, police officers and firefighters using existing budgets. 

London police announced Wednesday two seized drug samples sent to a Health Canada lab tested positive for carfentanil, a deadly, potent synthetic opioid used as an elephant tranquilizer. 

The drugs were seized in London and were thought to be either cocaine or heroin, but also tested positive for the powerful opioid. 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said the province must work with police services, but can't commit to funding the Naloxone kits for officers. 

"Direct operations funding is not provided to police services by the province because municipalities are responsible for determining effective policing services that meet their needs," the spokesperson wrote in an email. 

"Our government knows our police services are essential partners in combatting this crisis and will have more to say in the future on support of our police services with Naloxone to help keep those at risk of overdose safe."

Longworth also said police could face an investigation from the police watchdog if something went wrong while an officer used a Naloxone kit to treat an overdose. He called for specific guidelines for police officers on use of the kits. 

Carfentanil can also be fatal for officers exposed to it during a drug bust or other emergency. 

"It is cheaper, it has an addictive quality that can bring back repeat customers instantaneously, and it's a mechanism (drug dealers) can use to control the drug trade even further," Longworth said. 

"Every single time someone is ingesting fentanyl or carfentanil there's a very strong possibility that it can result in a fatality."