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Five people have already died this year from an alleged opioid overdose in the Northeast Ontario Provincial Police. (Stock Photo)
The number of opioid-related overdose deaths has increased dramatically in the Northeastern Ontario Provincial Police.
Acting Sergeant Shona Camirand said that so far this year, five people had died while an opioid was the suspected substance in the overdose.
Last year, three people died of an overdose of opioids.
According to Camirand, the number of overdose deaths has already exceeded the total of last year and we are about to overshadow the number of overdose deaths in 2017.
At the provincial level, the Ontario Provincial Police reported that the number of overdose deaths increased by 35% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.
Camriand also provided statistics on overdose calls when the victim did not die.
In 2017, OPP officers responded 23 times to an overdose call.
The number has climbed to 49 last year and so far, agents have treated 16 cases of overdoses this year.
According to Camirand, OPP officers are equipped with naloxone, a reversal agent that counteracts the effects of opioids on overdose victims.
She says that last year, the Ontario Provincial Police in the Northeast Region used naloxone eight times.
In one of these cases, the person eventually died.
This year, the Ontario Provincial Police used twice naloxone and one of those overdose victims died.
According to Mr. Camirand, some agents who responded to suspected overdoes of opioids had to use naloxone on their own because they came into contact with the drug.
"A tiny amount of fentanyl can cause overdose or health problems related to that," said Camirand.
"Fentanyl and opioids are a danger to the public and the police if we seize the drug."
Because of their deadly nature, Camirand has some tips to give to people who are considering taking opioids.
"You never know what's in the medicines you buy," she said.
"Who made them, where they came from, you have no idea. The best thing to do is to stay away from drugs. "
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