40 overdoses recorded in one week, says WRIDS
The Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy (WRIDS) is sounding the alarm after a significant number of drug overdose and poisonings were reported over the last week.
According to WRIDS, Between May 31 and June 5, there were 40 overdose and poisoning cases reported.
"You know, it's alarming for us," said Chief of Paramedic Services John Riches. "We're concerned about it and we're worried about the public and obviously want to make sure that people are safe and healthy."
When asked, WRIDS said it was unable to confirm if any of the 40 overdoses/drug poisonings mentioned in the alert were fatal.
As of Sunday, officials haven’t been able to determine if there is a tainted drug supply in the community.
"It was important enough for public health and paramedic services and all our partners on the drug strategy to get the alert out there because we wanted residents to be aware of the concern and to do things to protect themselves,” said Riches.
According the Region of Waterloo Public Health and Paramedic Services, there have been 544 opioid overdose and drug poisoning–related calls in Waterloo region this year, with a suspected 29 opioid-related deaths.
Graph showing the count of suspected opioid overdose/drug poisoning related calls in Waterloo region. (Submitted: Region of Waterloo)
Confirmed and probable opioid-related deaths with suspected drug-related deaths in Waterloo region. (Submitted: Region of Waterloo)
"Every community is grappling with making sure that their residents that are struggling with drug addiction are being supported,” Riches said. “It's not unique to the Region of Waterloo but certainly very concerning for the Region of Waterloo."
A University of Waterloo professor in the School of Public Health Sciences doesn’t believe the recent rise in cases qualifies as a drug crisis in the region but says the spike could foreshadow more difficult days ahead for those relying on unregulated drug supply.
"If you see a trend of increase in cases, then you can say ‘yes it's more than before and we need to see what's happening’, so more investigation is definitely needed as to the causes," said Zahid Butt.
Riches says the alert is one way officials are doing everything they can to save lives.
"We do worry about people's overall health when they are addicted to a substance and that's why the Region of Waterloo and our partners…really want to make sure that we provide supportive care when necessary and also help people get access to preventative care," Riches said.
The last time WRIDS issued a community drug alert was on Apr. 6 and there have been three alerts issued so far this year. Officials are hoping to remind those in need the Consumption and Treatment Services site at 150 Duke St. West is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.