Cornwall Police and Eastern Ontario Health Unit warn of increase in drug-related poisonings in Cornwall and surrounding areas

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

The Cornwall Police Service (CPS) and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) are warning residents of an increase in drug-related poisonings in Cornwall and surrounding areas. The health unit has been notified by its community partners that a toxic substance in the unregulated drug supply is causing drug poisoning. The exact composition of the substance is currently unknown.

Drug poisoning prevention and safety tips

The best way to prevent drug poisoning is to avoid street drugs and only use medications prescribed to you by a healthcare professional. However, if people use street drugs, the following precautions can help lower the risk:

• Never use alone.
• If you are going to use it alone, call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. A non-judgmental colleague will stay on the phone with you for approximately 30 minutes to support you if necessary.
• Use only if help is available.
• Do not mix medications.
• Take a test dose and wait before taking more of the medicine.
• Get a free naloxone kit that can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
• To reduce the risk of contracting or passing on an infectious disease, use only new drug supplies and avoid sharing supplies.

Signs of opioid poisoning

Opioids such as fentanyl slow down the part of the brain that controls breathing, and in the event of poisoning, can cause a person to stop breathing completely, resulting in death. Individuals with opioid poisoning exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

• They may fall asleep, not wake up easily, or be unresponsive.
• They may breathe very slowly or not at all.
• Their lips and fingernails may be blue/gray.
• Their skin may be cold and clammy.
• Their body may be limp, possibly very tense, or they may be shaking.
• They may snore or gurgle.

• They may foam at the mouth or vomit.

If you witness a poisoning, it is essential to contact 911 as soon as possible. A naloxone kit alone may not be enough to reverse the fatal effects of opioids and medical attention may be necessary. Because time is of the essence, naloxone should be administered while you wait for emergency services to arrive. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act can provide legal protection for individuals seeking emergency care during a poisoning.

For more information about naloxone overdose prevention kits and where to find them, visit the Opioids page on the EOHU website at www.EOHU.ca, or visit www.ontario.ca/naloxone.