Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) is taking steps to try to prevent overdoses amidst a concerning trend. The Brantford Police Service reported at least 65 overdoses through the month of April. At least four of those incidents were fatal. The Brantford General Hospital’s emergency department also saw 65 opioid overdose related visits in April. It is the highest number of visits for that reason in the last four years. The health unit believes the current spike in overdoses is connected to fentanyl contaminated with medetomidine and benzodiazepines. Data from Toronto’s Drug Checking Service shows that between April 4 and April 17, 87 per cent of fentanyl samples contained at least one other central nervous system depressant, such as veterinary tranquilizers, and 46 per cent of fentanyl samples contained a combination of a high-potency opioid, a veterinary tranquilizer and a benzodiazepine-related drug. “While high quality data is not available for the drug supply in our region, GEPH believes that the local drug supply is likely similar to Toronto’s,” the release from the health unit said. Expanded services and prevention GEPH is increasing the hours of operation at The DROP at 185 Robinson Street in Simcoe. The space will be open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. until May 15. The DROP provides access to safer-use supplies, naloxone kits and drug test strips. The health unit is also expanding distribution of medetomidine test strips through its community partners. Anyone who uses drugs is encouraged to never use alone and to keep naloxone nearby. The substances can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and allow more time for medical help to arrive. It is still important to seek immediate medical assistance in the event of an overdose. Although naloxone does not work with benzodiazepine-related drugs and medetomidine, people are still encouraged to give someone who is experiencing an overdose a dose of naloxone as there could be unexpected substances mixed into the drugs. According to the Government of Canada, naloxone only works if a person has opioids in their system, and it cannot be improperly used or create dependence. A person experiencing an overdose may also need more than one dose of Naloxone.
