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Warning about blue/purple fentanyl after 'surge in overdoses' in Guelph

Two overdoses and one near-overdose took place within a 45-minute window Friday at the Guelph Community Health Centre. Staff there say the quick work of health professionals on site and paramedics saved lives, but they're also warning about possibly tainted blue/purple fentanyl.

Two overdoses and one near overdose happened within a 45-minute window Friday in Guelph

CBC News ·
This purple putty that's believed to contain fentanyl was seized by Ottawa police in 2018. A similar substance has been found in Guelph and the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy has issued a warning about blue/purple fentanyl. (Ottawa Police Service)

Officials in Guelph are warning the public after they've seen a "surge in overdoses" in the city.

The warning is for blue/purple fentanyl. On Friday, there were two overdoses and one near-overdose at the Guelph Community Health Centre (CHC) within 45 minutes. The Guelph CHC is where an overdose prevention site is located.

"These individuals survived the overdose events with the support of trained health professionals at the centre," said a warning about the potentially deadly fentanyl from the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy.

In a tweet, Raechelle Devereaux, executive director at the Guelph CHC, said tainted drugs "are driving this overdose crisis. They're in our community."

She reminded people who use drugs to carry naloxone and to never use alone. She also suggested people go to the overdose prevention site to take drugs, as they can be supervised by health professionals there. 

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