The Sarnia Police Service has expanded its Naloxone Administration Program.
Frontline officers have been carrying Naloxone kits for years, but now all uniformed members will have them on hand.
This will include the auxiliary unit and special constables.
Sarnia Police Deputy Chief Julie Craddock said this is a way of recognizing the increase in overdoses within the community.
"Really looking at an expansion is part of our harm reduction strategy by having more people trained," she said.
From January to September 2023, EMS responded to 220 opioid-overdose related calls and 24 opioid-overdose deaths in Sarnia-Lambton.
Craddock said the number of calls is concerning.
"(There's) a tremendous impact on the community having people that are suffering from addiction disorders. It impacts them, it impacts their family and it impacts services," she said.
Craddock explained the expansion highlights the Good Samaritan Act.
"It gives us an opportunity to publicly remind people that they can also administer naloxone, they can call 911 and if someone is experiencing medical crises related to opioids and they won't be in trouble," she said.
According to Craddock, training on naloxone started in April and now all uniformed officers are carrying it.
She said the kits are at no cost to the service.
"Naloxone kits are provided by public health and so this was just a real win-win situation for us," Craddock said.
