Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has issued a warning about suspect illegal drugs in Regina.
The ministry said in a news release on Nov. 21 that Newo Yotina Friendship Centre in Regina tested a drug sample which identified a “concerning concentration” of fentanyl and benzodiazepines (benzos).
Read more:
- Alert issued in Saskatoon after 104 overdoses in one week, including two deaths
- Sask. government doesn’t know how many people are waiting for addictions treatment
Newo-Yotina Friendship Centre operates an overdose prevention site, Wâhkôhtowin Harm Reduction, the first supervised consumption site in the city.
The ministry said the suspect drugs were pink chunks in some cases and some buyers believed they obtained methamphetamine (crystal meth, meth) and/or fentanyl.
It is not known whether the drugs were the cause of the recent increase in overdoses in Regina, the ministry said.
Regina Fire & Protective Services had been called to a high number of suspected overdoses in the city on Nov. 18 and reported people suffering from unconsciousness and cardiac arrest. In some cases multiple doses of naloxone had to be administered and some people were taken to hospital.
Naloxone will counter the effects of opioids, but not other substances.
The Saskatchewan government provides free naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response.
A list of places where the free kits are available can be found here. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.
What to do in an overdose
Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection and applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including any person experiencing an overdose.
The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.
Symptoms of an overdose may include but are not limited to:
- slow or no breathing
- gurgling
- gasping or snoring
- clammy and cool skin
- blue lips or nails
- difficulty waking up or staying awake
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction you can call or text the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. This toll-free, 24-hour hotline aims to prevent deadly overdoses by connecting people who are alone and using drugs with peer volunteers who can call for help if needed.
Read more:
