In response to the ongoing opioid-overdose epidemic in the Lower Mainland, the West Vancouver Police Department (WVPD) announced on November 20 that it has started a new program to help people with drug addiction who are taken into police custody.

The program will offer free naloxone overdose response kits, which can be used during medical emergencies for themselves or others. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control provided the kits, which contain three doses of naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan).

In addition, if clients are interested in treatment for drug addiction, West Vancouver police will make direct referrals to Vancouver Coastal Health outreach workers upon release from custody.

All West Vancouver police officers are also now trained in and carry naloxone kits when on duty.

Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Vancouver Coastal Health's medical health officer for the North Shore stated in a news release that healthcare and law enforcement organizations needs to work together during the opioid epidemic.

“People suffering from addiction are at high risk of overdose after release from custody, so linking them with outreach workers and other supports like naloxone can help keep them safe and get them the help they need,” Dr. Lysyshyn stated. “We hope this will help people get through a vulnerable period.”

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD), B.C. RCMP (as part of a national RCMP rollout of naxolone), and Abbotsford Police Department began distributing naloxone nasal sprays to its officers in September 2016 for use on themselves or others in case of exposure to opioids, such as fentanyl. The Georgia Straight has contacted the VPD for further information.

In B.C., opioid-related deaths have led to a decrease in life expectancy in the province. According to an October 23 report by Canada's chief public-health officer Theresa Tam, life expectancy in B.C. "dropped by 0.12 year from 2014 to 2016 due to deaths involving substances, with over 90 percent of these related to opioids".