in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
May 27, 2021
On Sunday May 23, the Grey Bruce Health Unit sent an Opioid Alert to system partners. The alert indicated that six Opioid Overdoses (non-fatal) were identified in the previous three days. Since that alert, at least three more overdoses have occurred throughout Grey Bruce.
This is in addition to an ongoing trend of multiple overdoses within Grey and Bruce this year and last. Anecdotally, there have been at least 10 fatal overdoses to date in 2021, pending Coroner confirmation — two occurring in the past two weeks. Fentanyl or carfentanil are assumed to be involved. Descriptions of the suspected substances are not available, however, previous reports indicated substances of differing colours, grey, blue, yellow, pink, purple.
All street drugs should be deemed highly toxic, and FATAL With 23 preliminary fatalities in 2020 and at least 10 anecdotal fatalities in 2021, the Opioid Epidemic is not showing signs of improvement.
In spite of COVID-19, the Grey Bruce Harm Reduction Team has ensured that all essential Harm Reduction Services remain operational, including Needles Syringe Exchange Program, Naloxone Distribution, and supplying 18 contracted sites with Harm Reduction supplies. In addition, focused outreach in high-risk areas throughout Grey and Bruce has been enhanced — offering greater harm reduction outreach services, as well as heightened Naloxone dispensing, and referrals to mental health and addiction services to many people, near where they live. Harm Reduction Outreach Services have also expanded to include housing system partners, as well as to many local food banks.
We urge people that use drugs to do so as safe as possible by following some Harm Reduction strategies:
The Overdose Prevention Line is a vital phone service for people that are using drugs alone. It is a service that allows users to call so that they can be safe while using alone. An operator will stay on the line with the user while the drug is used. In the event that the user becomes unresponsive, the Prevention Line operator will call 911 to make sure that help arrives.
If you know of a toxic drug, please report it by calling 211, using the report a drug system. The operator will fill out a form and it will then go to Public Health to action and alert the community. You can also fill out the form directly on the Grey Bruce Health Unit Website at the Report a Drug and/or Overdose Page.
Naloxone and safe drug use equipment is available at the Health Unit M-F 830am-4pm, and through our participating sites. Call the Health Unit for details, or call 211.
For additional Addiction Services:
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