Overdoses remain a problem locally.
According to Monique Duchesne, a public health nurse with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, the high toxicity of drugs found on the street is becoming a serious problem.
So far this year, there have been 33 suspected overdoses and two drug-related deaths across the region. The majority of those overdoses are attributed to ‘unknown opioids’ in the latest data provided by the health unit. 10 have occurred in Parry Sound.
“We are concerned about fentanyl and opioids. We also know that any substance from the unregulated drug market is unpredictably toxic, contaminated or cut with an unexpected substance (that could) cause additional adverse effects,” said Duchesne.
Last year, there were 184 overdoses and 18 drug-related deaths in our region.
Preliminary numbers from the tail end of 2023 indicate that the North Bay Parry Sound District had the fourth highest overdose rate in the province.
Duchesne said the high toxicity of drugs found on the street has become a serious problem.
“People are not just taking too much of a substance. Any amount of a substance could be so potent, contaminated or poisoned that people experience overdoses or death,” she said.
Written by Andrew Mendler