Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after one person died and four others were hospitalized for suspected drug overdoses at two different nightclubs Friday night.
Police said officers responded to a call at 12:42 a.m. about a suspected overdose at Uniun Nightclub on Adelaide St. West near Portland Street.
It is alleged a 24-year-old woman had collapsed from an apparent overdose. She was rushed to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to police.
While officers were on scene, another woman collapsed with similar symptoms and is believed to have taken the same drug as the first woman, MDMA.
Police said she was transported to hospital in serious condition.
Police then received another call around 1:30 a.m. about a medical complaint at another nightclub, Rebel, located at 11 Polson Street.
It is reported two men and a woman had collapsed from apparent overdoses and were transported to hospital.
Police released a public safety alert and notified hospitals to be aware of more possible overdoses.
Const. David Hopkinson told Global News that toxicology tests will be conducted to determine if the drugs were, in fact, MDMA.
“The only way we can find out, even if it’s MDMA, is by toxicology tests. We’ve seen this in the past where people claim that they have taken one drug and when the toxicology results come back it’s something completely different,” said Hopkinson.
This is the second incident of apparent overdoses at Rebel nightclub in the past six months. In December 2016, two suspected overdoses at the venue after an “all ages concert” resulted in the death of a 19-year-old woman and a 16-year-old woman being taken to hospital suffering from seizures.
READ MORE: Woman dead, 16-year-old girl hospitalized after overdosing at popular Toronto nightclub
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Both clubs are operated by Ink Entertainment who released the following statement:
We are shocked and saddened to learn that a patron who attended our concert on April 7th has passed away and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time.
While the causes of these incidents are still undetermined, we are fully cooperating with the police on the investigation.
Public safety and security is our top priority at INK Entertainment and we will continue to ensure that it remains that way with the highest standard of support.
In the interest of public safety, INK Entertainment is reminding all patrons that attend events at our venues that we have a zero tolerance drug policy, and subjects every patron entering the venue to a full and rigorous search. Anyone who is caught with an illegal substance is immediately denied entry or ejected from the venue. We employ an EMS company on-site for every music concert and club night.
Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further on this matter.