Police chief glad Patch 4 Patch going province wide

North Bay’s Police Chief is welcoming the Patch 4 Patch program becoming Ontario law.

The program was started in North Bay and Chief Paul Cook says he’s happy for those involved, including Detective Constables Tom Robertson and Brad Reaume and Intelligence Officer Greg McClenahan along with Pat Cliche from the North Bay and Area Drug Strategy Committee.

Bill 33 passed Third Reading at Queen’s Park on Monday and Cook says it really does save lives.

He says since implementing the strategy in 2014, there hasn’t been one death caused by Fentanyl overdose in the city.

Cook added lots of cities around the province have implemented the plan and he expects it to grow beyond Ontario’s borders.

He says they have been contacted by other police services out west that are experiencing similar problems. Cook says once it becomes official law in Ontario, other provinces may try to replicate the legislation.

The program requires anyone who uses a Fentanyl patch for medicinal purposes to return a used patch, in order to get a new one.