Nearly 30 suspected opioid overdoses in less than two weeks: Hamilton Public Health

Hamilton’s Public Health department has released sobering statistics on local opioid overdoses.

Officials say between Sept. 1 and 10, paramedics responded to 29 suspected opioid overdoses, compared to 40 in all of August.

Hamilton Public Health (HPH) says one contributing factor could be that more people are calling 911 when experiencing symptoms of opioid overdose due to increased awareness.

As a precautionary measure, public health confirms it is increasing access to naloxone in the community by adding additional service hours to the Van Needle Syringe program.

LISTEN: Professor Jason Busse, editor of the 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, join the Roy Green Show

Officials have also received reports of fentanyl-laced methamphetamine circulating in the community and are urging residents to take precautions which include:

• Careful use — don’t use alone, go slow by testing effect with small amounts first
• Carry naloxone
• Call 911 for every overdose – you, your friend or family member needs hospital care to survive
• CPR — push hard, push fast

According to preliminary numbers from the Office of the Chief Coroner, 52 Hamilton residents died from opioid overdoses last year. Since Jan. 10 of this year, Hamilton paramedics have responded to 264 calls related to opioid overdoses.

HPH said it has distributed more than a thousand naloxone kits this year, and more than 250 people have been revived.