Police issue fentanyl warning after 3 deaths and one overdose in last 2 days
Posted April 29, 2023 11:08 pm.
Last Updated April 29, 2023 11:10 pm.
York region police are warning the public about the dangers of fentanyl after three deaths and one overdose in the last two days.
Police say between Friday and Saturday they responded to three drug-related calls in the area of Robinson Street and Highway 48 in Markham.
Investigators believe at least three deaths and one overdose incident that was treated in hospital is connected to the use of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
“If fentanyl is mistaken for another less-potent opioid like morphine, heroin or oxycodone, overdoses can easily occur,” police said in a release issued Saturday night. “Depending on how it’s administered, the user may not notice the difference until it’s too late.”
Symptoms of an overdose include slow, irregular and shallow respirations, pinpoint pupils, muscle rigidity, seizures and unconsciousness leading to coma. Minor effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting.
Police say if you are using drugs you should have a Naloxone kit available in case of an emergency, avoid mixing drugs and be very careful when it comes to dosage.
