After putting out an initial warning in March, public health officials say they have continued to see an increase in opioid overdoses in the area over the past two months.
Emergency department visits due to overdoses in Hastings-Prince Edward jumped to a record high of 22 in May, with 19 incidents reported in April as well.
Local police and paramedics are also seeing an increase in overdose-related calls, with neighbouring health units experiencing similar trends as well.
The health unit says that “pandemic-associated stresses may lead to an increase in substance use” and that anyone using hard drugs should make sure to have a Naloxone kit nearby, never use alone and avoid mixing drugs, or drugs and alcohol together.
Naloxone kits and other “harm reduction supplies” can be picked up at health unit offices in Belleville, Bancroft and Trenton.
The health unit is also promoting its Overdose Prevention Line, which operates Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight at 1-888-853-8542.
An operator will ask the caller’s location and stay on the phone while the caller uses drugs and in the event that they receive no response after the drugs are used, will call 911 and report a possible overdose.
There are also a number of resources for those struggling with addiction including the health unit’s Getting Help section of its website, as well as its Safer Drug Use web page.
