A Hamilton prevention group is sounding the alarm about an increase in overdoses recently. However, the region isn’t alone.
The disturbing trend is being seen in other areas of the province as well. Driving many groups to demand leaders to take action.
Bellville, Ont. declared a state of emergency due to a surge of overdoses in the city. Ottawa has also issued a warning about toxic drugs.
The City of Hamilton is also calling it a crisis.
From Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 there was an increase in EMS calls for suspected overdose in the city, with a total of 20 calls according to Hamilton paramedics.
Superintendent Dave Thompson, from the Hamilton Paramedic Services, says “if we look at January alone we’re at 58 calls. That’s a significant increase in our 911 responses for opioid overdoses within that last week.”
READ MORE: ‘Larger plan’ needed for drug crisis after rash of overdoses: Belleville, Ont., mayor
According to the Student Overdose Prevention & Education Network (SOPEN), the recent drug poisonings in the community have been linked with several substances including a green drug, light-green fentanyl, a peach drug or pink fentanyl and light-blue or teal fentanyl.
SOPEN says “Hamilton recently started doing drug checking as well, at the Hamilton Urban Core Community Centre which is also where they have the safe consumption sites, so that’s really important… that’s where we get this information from that can be blasted to the public.”
Specific information like the colour is coming from the folks themselves.
The group also says, in some cases naloxone had to be administered three or more times and Hamilton Public Health says they are seeing an increasingly toxic drug supply in the area.
Julie Prieto from the Hamilton Public Health Services says, if there is a need for more than one naloxone dose, it is a good indicator that there is a toxic drug supply.
Another indicator, according to Prieto, is “when we hear different responses to the drug as well” She says “when we hear that people are seizing and that’s not a typical response.”
READ MORE: Surge in opioid-related overdoses raises concern in Brantford-Brant
Both the city and SOPEN agree it is a crisis that needs to be addressed from all levels of government.
“Safe injection sites need to be funded and we also need to look at the other options such as safer supply,” says SOPEN, “those programs do exist right now but are being defunded by the federal government.”
On Friday Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford were asked about the crisis in Bellville. Both leaders say they are going to work together on more treatment and recovery centres.
Premier Ford says they also have to go after the source of the problem.
SOPEN has said it is important to break the stigma and more people in the community should carry a naloxone kit on hand because you never know when someone will need it.
