A surge of overdose calls in downtown London this week shows the need for more naloxone in the community, London’s medical officer of health said Friday.
The Middlesex London Health Unit runs a naloxone training program to teach people at risk of overdosing and those close to them to use the medication, which can reverse opioid overdoses.
“We need naloxone to be available in the community, which it thankfully is. I think the community response to that event was rapid and is one of the reasons that we did not have any confirmed fatalities as a result of the event,” said Dr. Alex Summers, medical officer of health.
On Wednesday and Thursday, emergency crews responded to 39 overdose-related calls after a suspect allegedly handed out a toxic substance in the city’s downtown. The spike has renewed questions about how the community should respond to the ongoing drug-toxicity crisis.
Police are still looking for information on vehicles that were in the area at the time, and have asked anyone who may have footage of the handouts to contact them.
Meanwhile, the region remains in the midst of an opioid-poisoning crisis, and the community continues to face significant challenges related to problematic substance use, Summers said.
“We have people who are suffering from severe opioid addiction that is worsening their life, but also putting them at significant risk for overdose and death, and that is particularly true when the substance becomes more unpredictable or potent,” Summers said.
Police said the fentanyl involved in several of this week’s overdose calls was in the form of a yellow pill.
“It has an opioid-like effect on people, specifically with respiratory depression and overdoses,” said Lily Bialas, interim director of harm reduction at the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.
Substance use and addiction is complex. says Bialas. People experience addiction “require a comprehensive health care and community approach. And hard reduction is one of the pillars that supports that health care approach for people,” she said.
Image of fentanyl (Via DEA.gov)
Public health officials said the recent overdoses highlight how unpredictable the unregulated drug supply remains, and that community spaces should be equipped with naloxone.
The medication is widely available at most pharmacies and has reversed over 22,000 overdoses in Ontario since 2020.
“These are really key variables to ensure that people aren’t dying from overdose when we’ve got this uncertain drug supply,” said Summers.
