Staff members at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are urging drug users in the region to start carrying a naloxone kit with them.
According to an announcement from the organization, there’s been a spike in overdoses over the past few days.
“The Health Unit along with community partners are cautioning the community regarding the dangerously toxic substance supply,” explains Communications Coordinator Susan Healey. “In Leeds Grenville and Lanark, the number of opioid related deaths has declined relative to 2021 but remains higher than in 2019.”
Beyond carrying naloxone, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose from a substance like heroin or fentanyl, the Health Unit is urging drug users to avoid mixing substances, start with small test doses, avoid taking drugs alone, and call 911 in the event of an overdose.
You can learn more about drug overdose, and harm reduction services like free naloxone kits the organization offers, on the Health Unit website.