The Brant County Health Unit has issued a public safety alert after an increase in suspected opioid-related drug poisonings, including five deaths.
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From Nov. 1 to 27, there have been 27 drug poisonings in Brantford-Brant.
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“This is a higher number of drug poisonings than what is typical for a period of this length,” said a drug alert issued on Monday. “The substance responsible cannot be identified at this time.”
The alert says to be cautious when using any type of drug not prescribed to the user.
“If you are new to drug use, you are particularly at risk should you use drugs that may have unpredictable potency or contain unexpected and dangerous contaminants.”
The number of opioid-related deaths in Brant more than doubled from 2018 to 2022 – when there were 47 — and was consistently greater than the rate in Ontario.
Men between 25 and 44 represent the most opioid-related fatalities. More than a third of the deaths happened when the person was alone and nobody was there to intervene. Fentanyl was the most prevalent opioid contributing to the deaths. No more than a quarter of all opioid-related deaths involved the use of naloxone.
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If someone overdoses:
- Call 911
- Administer naloxone if an opioid drug poisoning is suspected.
- Perform rescue breathing and/or chest compressions.
- Don’t give any other substances because this can make the drug poisoning worse.
- If there are no improvements, continue to give naloxone two to three minutes apart until paramedics arrive.
- If you have to leave the person unattended, put them in the recovery position.
If using substances:
- Try not to use alone. If you must use alone, get someone to check on you either by phone or in person, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. Someone will stay on the phone with you while you use drugs and call for help if needed.
- Go slow if you are using a new substance or have purchased your usual substances from a new supplier. Take a small test dose first to see how it is going to affect you.
- Purchase from a trusted supplier, if possible. Be especially careful if you have recently switched suppliers.
- Carry naloxone, even if you don’t expect to be using opioids. Your drug may be contaminated with fentanyl even if you aren’t expecting an opioid.
- The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides protection and immunity from simple possession charges for those who call 911 in the case of an overdose.
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