8 overdoses over the holidays in Guelph prompt public health alert

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has issued a health alert after eight overdoses happened over the span of six days at the Guelph consumption site, all suspected to have been caused by purple and clear/white fentanyl.

The overdoses were not fatal, and were reversed at the Consumption and Treatment Services site with oxygen and naloxone.

There were five overdoses between Dec. 19 and Dec. 22 and then another three on Christmas Eve. There was also a near fatal overdose on Christmas Day, according to Raechelle Devereaux, the executive director of the Guelph Community Health Centre, which runs the consumption site.

 "Three in one day is pretty significant," said Devereaux.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health also says there are concerns about the use of "extremely potent" black fentanyl in the community.

In July, there was a public warning about white fentanyl after three people overdosed at the site.

Unusual symptoms

Staff at the consumption site in Guelph noticed unusual symptoms with all the overdoses, according to Devereaux.

"Typically when one experiences an opioid overdose, you're starting to see a lack of responsiveness, drowsiness, sedation and then moving to non-responsive with decreased breathing," said Devereaux.

"In these situations, we were seeing some of those sedation symptoms, but then with these erratic and uncontrolled body movements."

Devereaux says the purple and clear/white fentanyl linked to the overdoses is suspected to be coming from a new supply of drugs in the community.

"People who who are struggling with addictions ... are relying on illicit and illegal drugs supply, which there is no control over."

The staff at the consumption site say the white and purple fentanyl have a hard, rock-like consistency.

'Don't use alone'

The consumption site will continue to stay open throughout the holidays.

The site opened its doors at 9 a.m. on Christmas Day and saw more than 30 people access the health centre and at least 15 people come to the consumption site, according to Devereaux.

She points out every overdose that has happened since the site opened in May 2018 has been reversed.

Devereaux's message to people in the community if they're going to use drugs over the holidays is: "don't use alone."

"There is no good time to use substances alone, but now more than ever it's actually a risk of death as we know from the high rates of overdose across the province and our country."