Timmins area health unit warns people who use drugs to be prepared after overdose spike

Spike in toxic drugs in the Timmins area Health officials in Timmins are warning street drugs, including substances such as cocaine and crack, may also be tainted with opioids.

The Porcupine Health Unit is alerting people to what it says is a concerning increase in suspected opioid-related toxicity events affecting multiple communities in its service area.

Health officials warn street drugs -- including substances such as cocaine and crack -- may also be tainted with opioids and as a result, Timmins and multiple surrounding communities are currently under a 'red alert.'

"This signifies that we have tainted substances that are in the communities and what is in one community in our region is usually in all the communities -- substances move between our communities easily," said Laurie Dagg-Labine, manager of school programs, substance use and mental health with the Porcupine Health Unit.

Dagg-Labine said the Porcupine Health Unit would report statistics when it’s safe to do so.

She said sharing names of towns and other information too quickly about overdoses or deaths can affect confidentiality.

The main message the health unit wants to get across with the 'red alert' is to remind everyone who’s using drugs, even if they’re not substances you think contain opioids, to be prepared.

"We want people to think about carrying naloxone in the same way that they carry first aid kits," said Dagg-Labine.

"First aid can be administered to people that we don't know, just the same way as naloxone can be. Naloxone is easy to learn how to use, readily available and it saves lives."

The 'red alert' will be in effect for the next two weeks, at which time the emergency task force will reassess the situation.

This comes as the supervised injection site is set to close in Timmins on July 1.