The Halton Police is concerned about a recent surge in drug overdoses in the region.
Police have attended 12 overdoses in Halton region in the last 11 days.
Two of those overdoses were fatal and involved unknown substances.
A variety of substances are believed to have played a role in the other ten overdoses, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Xanax, among others.
Since January 1st, 2020, there have been 97 suspected overdoses in the region, 14 of which were fatal.
A list of tips has been provided by the Halton Police.
If you use drugs, or have a friend or family member who uses drugs, these tips may help save a life in the event of an overdose.
Know the signs. An overdose is a medical emergency. Know the signs of an overdose and call 9-1-1 right away:
- difficulty walking, talking, or staying awake;
- blue lips or nails;
- very small pupils;
- cold and clammy skin;
- dizziness and confusion;
- extreme drowsiness;
- choking, gurgling or snoring sounds;
- slow, weak or no breathing;
- inability to wake up, even when shaken or shouted at.
Don’t run. Call 9-1-1.
Carry naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available free-of-charge in Halton at:
- Halton Region Harm Reduction Services (Exchange Works);
- Halton Region Sexual Health clinics;
- Most pharmacies in Halton.
Never use alone. Don’t use drugs alone, and don’t let those around you use alone either. If you overdose when you are alone, there will be no one there to help you. If you are using with someone else, don’t use at the same time.
Go slow. The quality of street drugs is unpredictable. Any drug can be cut with, or contaminated by, other agents or drugs (e.g. fentanyl), which in very small amounts can be harmful or fatal. Know your tolerance and always use a small amount of a drug first to check the strength.
