Toronto Public Health warns of sudden spike in suspected opioid overdose calls
Toronto Public Health says that there has been a sudden spike in suspected overdose calls over the last week, raising concerns about the presence of “highly potent opioids” in the city’s unregulated drug supply.
Paramedics responded to a total of 108 suspected overdose calls over a two-day period earlier this week, three of which ended up being fatal.
On Wednesday alone, paramedics responded to 60 such calls, which is the highest single-day total since the city began tracking the data in 2017.
Toronto Public Health says that the overdoses appear to be occurring “across the city” and involve “a range of substances.”
“The use of highly-potent opioids – on their own or in combination with other drugs – may result in extreme sedation and dangerous suppression of the respiratory system,” Toronto Public Health said in a statement. “Since these drugs are so strong, the risk of overdose is increased, and greater than normal doses of naloxone may be required to rouse individuals experiencing an overdose.”
There has been an increase in suspected opioid overdoses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with the average number of calls responded to by paramedics rising from 68 per week to 149 per week.
But the latest data seems to be pointing to a further acceleration, which has prompted Toronto Public Health to formally issue a drug alert warning of the possible presence of “highly potent nitazene opioids and benzodiazepine-related drugs in in samples expected to be fentanyl.”
“From November 27 to December 1, there were 10 suspected opioid overdose deaths attended by Toronto Paramedic Services, which is higher than average for a five-day period. These fatal calls occurred across Toronto,” Toronto Public Health warned. “While specific details are not yet known, there appears to be a range of substances from the unregulated drug supply involved.”
The warning from Toronto Public Health on Friday afternoon comes on the heels of police issuing a public safety alert on Wednesday regarding a “suspicious” drug that caused the suspected overdoses of five people in Parkdale.
Police also issued a public safety alert last weekend regarding another drug that had been linked to two deaths in Toronto's Deer Park neighbourhood.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.