Londoners are being warned about potent forms of fentanyl and heroin in the city that have been linked to 13 overdoses this month at the temporary overdose prevention site.
The Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, which helps operate the overdose prevention site at 186 King St., raised the red flag about the increased strength of the deadly drugs on Friday. The overdoses happened between August 1 and August 23. In each case, staff at the facility were able to reverse the effects of the overdose using Naloxone.
"This is a significant increase compared to the eight overdoses reversed in the first five and a half months of operation," Regional HIV/AIDS Connection said in a statement about the 13 overdoses seen this month.
The agency is now urging those who use drugs to ingest them slowly and in tiny doses, avoid mixing substances, carry a Naloxone kit, not to use alone and always tell someone where you will be. Anyone who finds an individual suffering an overdose is told to call 911, administer Naloxone, and continue to assist the person under paramedics arrive.
Since opening its doors on February 12, the site has been used more than 7,000 times by 2,000 different people - nearly 10% of them have been referred to rehabilitation. The site is intended to give those who use drugs a safe place where they can consume narcotics without fear of a fatal overdose.
To date, there have been no overdoses deaths reported at the facility.
The temporary overdose prevention site received provincial funding and permission to operate from the former Wynne government in January. The new Conservative government extended the site's permit this month, allowing it to remain in operation until September 30. It operates Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.
The Middlesex London Health Unit is working to get approval for one or more permanent supervised consumption facilities within the city.
Free Naloxone kits are available through the health unit and Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.
