Ottawa police and paramedics responded to at least 22 calls in the past week about suspected overdoses, including five cases where the person died. Rob Boyd, the director of the Oasis program at Sandy Hill Community Health Center says this isn’t just a downtown problem. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is a city-wide problem, it’s not just something that’s happening in the downtown core,” he told CTV News Ottawa. “We know there has been a significant increase in the number of overdose deaths for people who are homeless in Ontario over the past two years, but there are still a large number of people living in private housing who are overdosing.” Wendy Muckle, co-founder and CEO of Ottawa Inner City Health, says the issue is likely tied to the local supply of drugs. “This is usually attributed to the supply of drugs alone. As I’m sure you understand, this is an illegal supply of drugs that is probably produced locally and the quality of the drugs is not great as the concentration is probably very high.” she says. “It seems to be the illegal fentanyl that is the culprit and it seems to be in everything.” Boyd says the situation calls for a broad shift in thinking. “We need to look at the regulatory framework under which we do this, we need to promote decriminalization strategies within the federal government, we need to look at an increased investment in harm reduction and treatment, we need to look at new types of treatment, and then we need to to invest in anti-stigma campaigns across the board,” he said. The Ottawa Overdose Prevention and Response Task Force is reminding people who use drugs to take precautions.
Never use alone – If you overdose when you are alone, no one will be there to help you. If using with someone else, do not use at the same time. Do not mix medications – Mixing with other medications puts you at a higher risk of overdose. Take it slow – The quality of illegal drugs is unpredictable. Fentanyl can be cut (mixed) with opioid and non-opioid drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crack, or other prescription-like pills (such as “oxycodone”) or other pills, including ecstasy/MDMA. Anything can be cut with Fentanyl or Carfentanil. Carry Naloxone – Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone kits are available for free in Ontario. Visit StopOverdoseOttawa.ca to learn how to get a naloxone kit. Know your tolerance – The risk of overdose increases if you are a new user or have not used it for more than three days. If you choose to use – Consider visiting one of the four Supervised Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) locations in Ottawa. Supervised Consumption and Treatment Services If using alone – Notify someone before using. Have a security plan, leave the door unlocked and have someone check on you. You can also call the National Overdose Prevention Hotline at 1-888-688-NORS (6677) or connect with an anonymous virtual harm reduction supporter through the Brave app.
Residents are also encouraged to know the signs of an opioid overdose.
Breathing will be slow or absent Lips and nails are blue The person does not move The person may be choking The person may make gurgling or snoring sounds The person cannot wake up Skin feels cold and soft Pupils are tiny (aka pinpoint)
If you suspect someone has overdosed, call 9-1-1 immediately. Overdose is always a medical emergency. There are also limited legal protections available for drug users and bystanders who call emergency services during an overdose.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people who overdose or are with someone who has overdosed from: Charges of possession of drugs under section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and breach of conditions relating to simple possession of drugs in:
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