WRIDS issue alert after 6 overdoses in 4 days

After six overdoses in Waterloo Region spanning over the course of three days, a community-based effort to monitor, alert and respond is being launched.

Heroin and fentanyl are believed to have been used in the five non-fatal and one fatal overdoses between January 23rd and 26th.

Paul Gregory from the Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy tells 570 News that the toxicology reports have not come back yet, but fentanyl is suspected.

“As more information becomes available, we’ll know. fentanyl is suspected just based on the rapidity of the overdoses and the quickness in which they are happening”.

WRIDS are concerned and will hold a meeting on February 8th. Gregory adds how dangerous fentanyl is.

“In the case of fentanyl, it is 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine. It’s a very quick overdose. When people are using substances and don’t have the complete knowledge of the chemical makeup or what’s happening or what the substance is cut with. People don’t know that heroin is cut with fentanyl and that’s where people run into trouble in terms of the toxicity level and the rapidity of the onset of an overdose.”

The meeting on February 8th will have training from Waterloo Region Public Health and Sanguen Health Centre that will allow people to learn how to treat someone with an overdose before the paramedics arrive. They will also provide training on how to administer Naloxone.

Naloxone is an emergency medicine that is:

• An opioid antagonist and a (temporary) antidote for an opioid-related overdose.
• A proven lifesaver and a World Health Organization-recommended Essential Medicine.
• Similar to epinephrine (e.g. EpiPen® ) for anaphylaxis.
• Available for people who are using opioids via Sanguen Health Centre

 

If you witness an overdose you become a first responder until the paramedics arrive says Gregory.

Here are the steps to take:

• Call 911
• If you have Naloxone, administer it.
• If you don’t have Naloxone, use rescue breathing and CPR.

 

The symptoms of heroin and fentanyl overdoses are similar and as follows:

• Unusual snoring
• Breathing slow or stopped
• Face is clammy to the touch, loss of colour
• Heartbeat is slow or stopped
• Finger nails, lips are blue or purple tinged

 

You can report an overdose confidentially right here.

For training on preventing an overdose or to access Naloxone, you can contact:

Sanguen Health Centre – 519-603-0223 or Waterloo Region Public Health – 519-575-4400.