RCMP officers now carry life-saving fentanyl antidote in Manitoba

RCMP officers will now be able to help rescueanyone in the middle of anopioid overdose in Manitoba with an antidote, the police force says.

All front-line RCMP officers have been trained and supplied with the life-saving drugnaloxone, which can bring someone suffering from a fentanyl overdose back from the brink of death.

A total of 1,010 nasal spray naloxonekits are now in the hands of Manitoba RCMP officers.

The move was done in response to a "growing public health crisis" of synthetic opioid use in the province, the RCMP said.

• Fentanyl deaths have nearly doubled in Manitoba over 2 years
• Manitoba confirms at least 24 opioid-related deaths in 2016

"We are very aware of the presence of fentanyl in Manitoba communities, and we are prepared for the enforcement piece of this puzzle,"Cpl. Scott Hanson, head of Manitoba RCMP DDivision's synthetic drug operation, said in a statement Thursday.

"However, we cannot arrest our way out of this issue. We are also focusing on the prevention, education and harm reduction elements related to the use of fentanyl."

• How to get ahead of Winnipeg's fentanyl crisis? 'Treat the real problem,' advocate says

The move comes in the wake of the Winnipeg Police Service announcing plans for itsofficers to carry the overdose antidote. The service made the announcement in October after three suspected fentanyl deaths.

Pharmacists Manitoba has also called on the province to cover the cost of naloxone.

As of this week, Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzensaidthere have been at least 24 confirmed opioid-related deaths this year.

Fentanyl was ruled to be either a contributor to or the cause of nine deaths in the first five months of 2016. That number is expected to rise as results from outstanding toxicology reports are delivered.