The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, is raising awareness of an increase in drug poisoning related emergency room visits in LGL over the past two weeks.
In the past two weeks, LGL has seen 21 emergency room visits; this is double the number of visits typically seen in our area.
Along with the recent increase in drug poisonings, the Health Unit has also been made aware of the presence of Xylazine, a tranquilizer, in the unregulated drug supply locally.
Xylazine can cause deep sedation, slow down breathing and heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood sugars, constrict pupils and cause extreme feelings of tiredness and fatigue. The risk of experiencing a fatal drug poisoning significantly increases if there is Xylazine unknowingly mixed with other substances such as opioids (i.e., fentanyl) or benzodiazepines (i.e., lorazepam) that cause sedation and central nervous system depression.
Xylazine does not respond to Naloxone, the medication used to reverse an overdose.
All drug poisonings are considered a medical emergency and seeking out emergency medical care is a vital step in the prevention of further fatalities.
The risk of an overdose can be reduced by following safer use practices;
- Call 911 in the event of an overdose
- Carry a naloxone kit
- Avoid mixing substances
- Use a small test dose first
- Do not use alone
- If you have no other choice than to use alone, call the Overdose Prevention Hotline 1-888-688-6677