Toxic drug supply causing complex overdoses in Sudbury
Officials are warning that street drugs are being mixed with other substances, making Naxalone ineffective to combat overdoses.
Officials are warning that street drugs are being mixed with other substances, making Naxalone ineffective to combat overdoses.
Outreach workers and Public Health Sudbury and Districts say toxic overdoses have been increasing in the area lately.
Officials said illegal drugs are being cut with substances that Naloxone -- a medication for opioid overdoses – can't reverse.
Naxalone
Officials said illegal drugs are being cut with substances that Naloxone -- a medication for opioid overdoses – can't reverse.
(Alana Everson/CTV News)
In May, the Go Give Project said it handed out about 220 Naloxone kits, a fast-acting medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
But Ali Farooq, The Go Give Project co-founder, said it only works on opioid overdoses.
Increase in toxic overdoses
'While it will reverse the effects of the opioid that the individual is suffering, it will not have any other effect on any other contaminants or additives to the supply,' Farooq said.
He said outreach workers are seeing an increase in toxic overdoses, which he attributed to a more toxic drug supply.
'This usually ties in when we have big drug busts in the province and around the country,' Farooq said.
'It limits the supply coming in and therefore we find more and more contaminants mixed in with the drugs going out onto the streets.'
Sam Mortimer
Public Health nurse Sam Mortimer said it's a reminder of just how toxic the unregulated drug supply is and making overdoses more complex.
(Alana Everson/CTV News)
Public Health said it's a reminder of just how toxic the unregulated drug supply is and making overdoses more complex.
'Those sedatives and tranquilizers that have been added into the supply in recent years increase those effects,' said public health nurse Sam Mortimer.
'We are seeing people who are staying asleep or sedated for a lot longer, which puts them at a greater risk. And it also decreases their ability to breathe, which, again, puts them at risk for respiratory distress or arrest.'
Health unit officials said it's still vitally important to administer Naloxone in an overdose, call 911 and give rescue breaths while waiting for help.
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CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Alberta babies have been born with measles due to outbreaks, worrying doctors
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CBC News asked for the data after Ontario reported a premature baby, born infected with measles, died. That province has reported seven cases of congenital measles since mid-October. When CBC News asked for more detailed data, an official said the province limits the release of information when case numbers are very small for privacy reasons. The data was up-to-date as of June 12. No measles deaths have been reported in Alberta since the outbreaks began this year. As of June 14, a total of 85 Albertans had been hospitalized due to the infection, including 14 intensive care unit admissions. By midday Thursday, the province's total measles case count had climbed to 996. Serious complications Pregnant individuals are at higher risk of complications from measles. 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What is congenital measles Congenital measles occurs when the mother passes the infection along in the final two weeks of pregnancy and the baby is born infected, according to Castillo. It can spark severe complications in the infant, including brain inflammation and even death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Those babies can be very, very sick," said Castillo. Ontario announced earlier this month that a premature baby born with congenital measles had died. The infant's mother was unimmunized. At the time, health officials said measles was a "significant contributing factor" to the premature death but that the baby also had other serious health problems. In addition to a fever and rash, babies with congenital measles can be born with other symptoms, including inflammation of the liver, physicians are warning. "They potentially could also present with pneumonia or potentially have an infection around the brain, which is called encephalitis," said Reichert. If the baby is born early — and has congenital measles — there is a higher risk of serious lung disease due to the immaturity of their lungs, she added. And beyond the immediate health concerns, there are several potential and serious long-term consequences, including a rare but debilitating neurological illness that manifests years later. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a virus that hides in the brain for years. It eventually flares up, triggering brain inflammation and causing children or young adults to lose the ability to move and speak. In nearly all cases patients die. According to Reichert, the risk of this complication is believed to be higher when a baby is born with measles or is infected early in infancy. "It's a devastating consequence because it really isn't treatable," said Reichert. 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"But again they're not in the public domain. And that makes it very, very hard because we haven't had the concerted effort to raise awareness … and give people the tools to make decisions." CBC News asked the province if it will publish this information moving forward, but did not hear back prior to publication time. Reichert wants Albertans to understand the risks and she's urging everyone to ensure that they and their children are immunized to protect both themselves and others around them who may not be able to be immunized. Mothers who are immunized pass antibodies on to the fetus during pregnancy, offering protection during a baby's first few months of life. Post-exposure therapy The measles vaccine (MMR) is not generally recommended during pregnancy in Canada. 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CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Ontario's measles outbreak through the eyes of front-line workers
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CP is solely responsible for this content. Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Nova Scotia Health works to speed up sepsis treatment
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