Southwestern Public Health reports overdoses and drug-related deaths are rising as testing shows some street-level drugs contain a deadly mix. Already, a street-level agency reports lives have been lost. “We’ve lost two young women,” said Amanda Zielinski in an interview with CTV News London. Zielinski leads ‘The Nameless’, a St. Thomas organization that offers both harm reduction and peer support. She reports it was her team that alerted health officials after tests came back showing worrisome samples of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine. “So, after we tested, I believe it was a total of 11 samples. We did nine crystal meth samples and two cocaine samples. All of them tested positive for psilocybin. They tested positive for fentanyl, and they tested positive for benzodiazepines.” While the Southwestern Public Health Unit (SWPH) has not confirmed specific cases, they are tracking the rise in overdoses and deaths, confirms Lisa Gillespie, a public health nurse. She added that the broad advisory covers not only street-level users but also those who would use a drug like cocaine on occasion. “They’re not used to taking an opioid such as fentanyl, so there is a very increased risk of overdose and worsened sedation, which increases overdose risks.” As the public concern is heightened, so is the call for more education. Users are instructed to never use drugs alone. Counsellors now have not only naloxone in hand but also kits to identify drug contents. Just three years ago, Ray, was battling addiction. Today, he’s a peer support worker deeply concerned about the alarming discovery in the street supply. “The same thing could happen to me. Because you never know what’s in all the other drugs, too, right?” Which is why he is rushing to spread the word. “I’m concerned we’re going to lose more young people. So, much life is ahead out there, and then it’s not there anymore, you know.”
