Concerns are being raised after the discovery of the drug Fentanyl on Prince Edward Island.
An alert was issued by the PEI government on Thursday.
Two confirmed overdoses and a possible Fentanyl overdose in a 24-hour period have prompted a warning from Summerside Police Services and the Chief Public health officer…
Sergeant Jason Blacquiere says it is very concerning to see Fentanyl surfacing in their communities, “We are being vigilant in our response and continue to work with our partners to ensure there are safe and healthy communities across the province.”
Luckily, no one died in any of the recent incidents.
“Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine and has caused accidental overdoses and death in individuals who consume street drugs. Carrying naloxone and informing others who may use drugs that naloxone is available across Prince Edward Island are important steps to reduce the risk of possible overdoses,” says Dr. Heather Morrison.
The province has these recommendations if you suspect an overdose:
- Call 911 right away if you suspect an overdose
- An overdose might look different from one person to the next. But there are a few things you can look for if you suspect someone may have overdosed on an opioid like fentanyl. This includes slow, shallow breathing or no breathing and severe sleepiness or the person is not responsive.
- Call 911 to save the life of someone who overdoses.
- Call 911 even if naloxone is used because it may not be enough to counteract the drugs in your system; it only lasts for 20 minutes, and it may result in the person going into withdrawal, which is better managed by professionals.
