Sudbury's health unit and the Community Drug Strategy has issued a warning notice about reports of an increased number of drug overdoses and unexpected reactions from the use of toxic substances in the community.
"While we cannot confirm the substance(s) causing the overdoses, this situation serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs, including stimulants, may be cut or mixed with substances such as benzos (benzodiazepines), xylazine, fentanyl, or carfentanil," said a warning from on the drug strategy webpage.
"Frontline workers warn that substances with greater toxicity than usual may be circulating locally. There has also been an increase in reports of individuals having abnormal reactions after using white powdered substances," said the warning statement.
The statement went on to say that an overdose can occur when a person uses a substance, and their body is unable to handle the effects. As a result, the brain is unable to control basic life functions. The person might pass out, stop breathing, or experience a seizure. Overdoses can be both fatal and non-fatal.
Further information on how people might want to avoid overdoses and how people might lend assistance is provided on the drug strategy website. That information is located here.
