Posted by Despite the coordinated efforts of several community agencies, fighting the opioid epidemic in Brantford continues to be an uphill battle.
On Sunday, the Brantford Police Service sent out a media release explaining that officers and paramedics responded to a high number of drug overdoses over the past 48 hours.
In less than an hour on Friday afternoon, police assisted paramedics with two calls involving individuals who had overdosed and were transported to a hospital.
Later that evening, police responded to a residence in which a 34-year-old male was found without vital signs. An investigation into his death revealed a suspected drug overdose.
Early Saturday morning another male in his 40s was transported to hospital after using fentanyl, an extremely powerful type of painkiller known as an opioid. Fentanyl is around 100 times more powerful than morphine. The overdose was treated with naloxone, which temporarily counteracts the effects of opioid overdoses.
Shortly before noon on Saturday, police responded to the death of a 45-year-old man in city’s downtown area. The cause of his death is suspected to be a drug overdose.
On Sunday, police responded to a 911 call from another residence where a 55-year-old man was found without vital signs. He was given naloxone, but died soon after.
Brantford Police Service is are working alongside the Coroner’s Office in each case.
Investigators suspect that fentanyl is a contributing factor in all three deaths.
Police are reminding members of the public of the dangers associated with opioid use. If you or someone you know is at risk of an opioid overdose, free naloxone take home kits are available at various locations throughout the city.
Visit the Brant County Health Unit website at www.bchu.org for additional information. You can also learn more at fentanylcankill.ca.
grandrivernews.ca 