Warning comes a week after the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy (WRIDS) issued a warning about the increase in the number of drug poisoning related deaths in the region
Two suspected drug overdose deaths in Kitchener and Wellesley township have prompted Waterloo regional police to issue a warning to the public.
The deaths were in the area of King Street East and Ottawa Street North in Kitchener and Gerber Road and Nafziger Road in Wellesley township on Wednesday morning. In one incident, a substance believed to be green fentanyl was located.
The warning comes a week after the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy (WRIDS) issued a warning about the increase in the number of drug poisoning related deaths they are seeing.
From Dec. 1 to 4, the collaboration between local health agencies and organizations dealing with the opioid epidemic said the suspected substance is fentanyl and in some instances is reported to cause chest wall rigidity. Multiple doses of naloxone have been required.
WRIDS recommends that anyone waiting for emergency services to respond should keep extra naloxone on hand and if the person slips back into a drug poisoning (overdose) state, administer another dose.
If someone overdoses, call 911 immediately, administer naloxone if an opioid drug poisoning is suspected, and perform rescue breathing and/or chest compressions.
Do not give any other substance(s) because this can make the drug poisoning worse.
If there are no improvements, continue to give naloxone 2-3 minutes apart until paramedics arrive.
If you have to leave the person unattended, put them in the recovery position.
For anyone using substances, WRIDS recommends never using alone and if using with a friend, do not use at the exact same time or use the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-6677.
Tags: Fentanyl Green Fentanyl New Drug Trends Opioid Crisis Overdoses Safety Alert
