Drug Alert – Risk of overdose remains high

Northwestern Health Unit - Special to The Bulletin

Kenora area OPP report that drug overdoses in the region remain higher than usual, and syndromic surveillance shows that Lake of the Woods Hospital’s Emergency Room continues to see an increase in visits related to drug overdose. Northwestern Health Unit had alerted the public on April 22nd about a noted increase in overdose events, and that has not improved.
“Any drug purchased through illegal sources can result in overdose and death,” says Donna Stanley, Director of Health Protection at Northwestern Health Unit. “The drug you think you purchased may be contaminated or laced with fentanyl or other drugs that make opioids stronger. OPP have indicated there may be a ‘bad batch’ of opioids/ fentanyl in the area,” adds Stanley.
Although the risk is being reported in the Kenora area, people across the region are urged to take measures to decrease their risk, including carrying Naloxone (Narcan) when using drugs and not using drugs alone. Other safety measures are listed in the previous alert (https://www.nwhu.on.ca/media-releases/drug-alert-increase-in-drug-poisonings/).