The Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) is again urging anyone who uses unregulated street drugs to practice critically important harm reduction strategies, such as not using alone and not mixing drugs with alcohol.

In a November 4 media release, this comes after Public Health received notification of a suspected fatal opioid overdose in the area. An individual in their 50s was pronounced dead on November 2, 2022. The individual had been mixing opioids with alcohol.

This is the third suspected fatal drug overdose reported to the Grey Bruce Health Unit within the past three months.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of another fatal drug overdose in Grey-Bruce. We will continue to work diligently with our partners to educate and support individuals, families, and communities to prevent opioid and illicit drug poisoning," said GBHU Physician Consultant Dr Rim Zayed. "Opioid overdose deaths continue to be a major public health concern, but they are preventable," Zayed said.

“We implore everyone who uses street drugs to take extra precautions, like always carrying a naloxone kit, not mixing substances – as this increases the risk of overdose – and starting with a low dose and increasing slowly," said Zayed.

People who use street drugs are at significant risk of overdose due to the local supply containing one or both of the highly toxic drugs Fentanyl and Carfentanil. The Grey Bruce Health Unit is advising the public that all street drugs should be deemed highly toxic and fatal.

If an individual must use alone, Public Health advises them to call the Overdose Prevention Line at 1-888-688-6677. An operator will stay on the line with the caller while the drug is used. In the event the caller becomes unresponsive, the Prevention Line operator will call 911 to make sure help arrives.

Overdose is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the Emergency Department.

The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act can provide protection to the person who experiences or witnesses an overdose against simple possession charges when 911 is called.

The Act can also protect from breach of conditions regarding simple possession in pre-trial release, probation orders, conditional sentences and parole.

However the Act does not provide protection from more serious offences such as outstanding warrants or production and trafficking of controlled substances.

Public Health encourages residents to get overdose prevention training and carry a Naloxone kit.

Naloxone and safe drug-use equipment are available at the GBHU Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm and through our participating sites. Call the Health Unit at (519) 376-9420 for details or call 211.

For additional addiction services:

ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600
Withdrawal Management/RAAM Clinic (Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic) 519-376-5666
G&B House 519-376-9495
Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre 519-371-0007
CMHA Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addiction Services 519-371-3642
Mental Health Crisis Line Grey Bruce 1-877-470-5200
Overdose prevention line (NORS) 1-888-688-6677

For more information, visit Grey Bruce's Harm Reduction page at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Harm-Reduction or call 211.