Warning issued after suspicious change in drugs across region
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is warning people about tainted drugs that may be sold on the streets in communities between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.
This is a second similar warning from the health agency after seeing an increase of suspicous overdoses, particularly in Dryden and Sioux Lookout.
According to the NWHU, people have been experiencing unusual reactions and effects from drugs and testing done by drug checking sites and people using drugs has shown there are often other substances mixed in that make use of these drugs more dangerous.
“We wanted to do a little more investigating,” says Donna Stanley, director of health protection with the NWHU. “So the second (warning) is like a follow up that we were saying this looks like it is around the region between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay so maybe everyone should know.”
The NWHU cautions people that substances are being sold as cocaine, however it is causing unusual symptoms of feeling unwell, sleepiness or unconsciousness, even death.
Stanley adds that sometimes naloxone isn’t proving effective, suggesting the substance is tainted with tranquilizer.
As well, opioids have been testing positive for medetomidine (vet tranquilizer) and crystal methamphetamine has tested positive for fentanyl.
The NWHU reminds people using drugs to practice safe harm reduction through such measures as testing drugs before using (NWHU has free test kits), keeping naloxone on hand, and to never use drugs alone.
In the end, the agency reiterates that people experiencing suspicious effects should contact emergency services and to report any adverse drug events.