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.

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.

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.”

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.