They want residents to know about an increase in overdoses and suspected overdose-related deaths in the Pembroke and Renfrew catchment areas.
In a media release, RCDHU stated that life threatening drugs are likely circulating, and lives are at risk, emphasizing all street drugs must be considered highly toxic and potentially fatal.
RCDHU is also reminding people that street drugs can contain potent tranquilizers that can reverse the effects of naloxone, the overdose reversal drug.
The health unit says people can reduce the risk of an overdose by putting certain measures in place, they include:
Don’t use drugs alone, don’t mix drugs and carry naloxone. Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and kits are available for free throughout RCD at local pharmacies and other locations.
For more information on where to get a kit please visit this link: Where to get a free naloxone kit | ontario.ca.
RCDHU said it’s possible that an individual treated with naloxone may have a re-emergence of the opioid overdose once the naloxone ‘wears off’, since the duration of action of most opioids exceeds that of naloxone.
RCDHU reminds everyone that all overdoses are a medical emergency and calling 9-1-1 is an important step in saving someone’s life.