Public well being investigating enhance in suspected drug-related deaths

Article content material

Amid experiences of a rise in suspected drug-related deaths, public well being officers are urging folks to take security precautions.

Article content material

In a information launch Friday night, Lambton’s well being unit urged folks to not combine opioids and different road medication, or alcohol; to not use alone, and to hold a naloxone equipment.

Indicators of an opioid overdose embody problem strolling, speaking or staying awake; blue or gray lips or nails; very small pupils; chilly and clammy pores and skin; dizziness and confusion; excessive drowsiness; choking, gurgling or loud night breathing sounds; sluggish, weak or no respiratory; and an incapacity to get up, even when shaken or shouted at, public well being officers stated within the launch.

Officers additionally urged folks to name 911 and stay on scene to supply info to paramedics within the occasion of an overdose, to manage naloxone if they’ve it, and to know that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects them from going through possession costs, or breach of circumstances costs associated to possession.

Article content material

Sarnia police just lately warned powerful-opioid fentanyl discovered moulded into cartoon-like shapes might pose a hazard if mistaken for sweet or hashish edibles.

Public Well being Ontario experiences 37 opioid overdose-related deaths in Sarnia-Lambton in 2021. Lambton’s price of 28.5 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 inhabitants for the yr was effectively above the 19.2 provincial common.

The newest opioid bulletin from Lambton public well being Oct. 24 notes a preliminary determine of 9 opioid overdose-related deaths between January and March this yr.

As of the tip of September, there had been 196 opioid overdose-related emergency medical service calls on the yr, and 13 associated emergency division visits, the bulletin says

Article content material

An alert Sept. 1 famous there had been a current enhance in calls to EMS for suspected opioid overdose locally, the bulletin says.

The surveillance report additionally notes about 4,800 free naloxone kits had been distributed, as of final month, by public well being and group companions, together with group well being centres, up to now this yr; although the quantity distributed by pharmacies wasn’t out there.

“Lambton public well being continues to validate all experiences of current overdoses with stakeholders and well being system companions,” the information launch says.

No additional details about the suspected drug-related deaths was instantly out there Saturday from public well being officers.

Extra details about public well being’s hurt discount program is on the market at lambtonpublichealth.ca/health-info/harm-reduction/, officers stated within the launch.