One person is suspected to have died, and there have been dozens of overdoses from a new supply of tainted fentanyl found in the Region of Waterloo.
That’s according to the Region’s Public Health department’s latest drug alert, issued Thursday.
It said 36 cases came in the five days from Feb. 21 to 25.
The alert said everyone needs to “be cautious using yellow, dark orange, or dark blue drugs.”
It went on to say some people using these drugs reported memory loss, confusion and being very sleepy.
According to Sanguen’s drug checking program, fentanyl samples of concern have medetomidine, benzodiazepines, xylazine, and nitazenes “unexpectedly mixed in. These drugs increase risk of overdose.”
The alert said naloxone should still be given in a suspected overdose, but it can not stop the effects of non-opioid drugs like most of those additives.
All of those additives can cause deep sedation, known as being “on the nod.” They can also cause hallucinations, blackouts, and very low or no pulse.
All users are reminded they can call 911 in the event of finding someone having an overdose.
