A community-oriented approach with a progressive editorial stance, striving for transparency and encouraging readers to consider multiple perspectives.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
booked.netCall us at 613-935-3763
Eco-conscious : Print an issue, plant a tree! 

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
The Seeker - Positively Local, Suporting Local
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos
Seeker
No Result
View All Result

Cornwall Police Service and Eastern Ontario Health Unit Warn of Increase in Drug-Related Overdoses and Deaths in Cornwall and Area

The Seeker by The Seeker
November 5, 2020
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

The Cornwall Police Service (CPS) and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) are warning residents about an increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths in and around the City of Cornwall. Most of the overdoses seem linked to the drug known as “purple heroin,” “purple fentanyl,” “purple,” or “purp.” Drug samples obtained by the CPS show the drugs contain a mix of fentanyl and a strong benzodiazepine.

“This is a worrying trend because naloxone can only counter an overdose caused by opioids like fentanyl,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. “It’s not effective on individuals who have overdosed on benzodiazepines. This is why I strongly urge anyone who suspects a person is having an overdose to call 911 right away, even before they administer naloxone.”

You might also like

A Night to Remember: HGMH Foundation Launches New Era with Major Gift Announcement

More walks, more training, more hope: CMHA Champlain East gets $229K boost for local mental health

St. Lawrence Parks Commission Sets the Stage for the Future with $82.2M Infrastructure Investment

“The safety of our community is the priority and we are asking the public to consider the dangers of consuming street drugs that may contain unknown hazardous contents,” said Chad Maxwell, Inspector of Field Operations for the CPS. “Members of the public and observers need not fear the involvement of police during an overdose, as the law provides protection against charges in these emergency situations. The CPS encourages members of the public to talk to their friends and family about calling 911 in suspected overdose situations in order to help make saving lives the priority.”

Safety tips to keep in mind when using street drugs

The EOHU is reminding the public that the safest option is to avoid street drugs or counterfeit medications altogether. That being said, individuals who will continue using street drugs can reduce their risk of an overdose by putting the following measures in place:

  • Never use alone
  • Use only where help is available
  • Don’t mix drugs
  • Take a test dose and wait before taking more of the drug
  • Get a free naloxone kit that can help to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose

Signs of an opioid overdose

Opioids such as fentanyl slow down the part of the brain that controls breathing. An opioid overdose can result in death because breathing stops. Individuals having an opioid overdose will display one or more of the following signs:

  • They may be nodding off, not waking up easily, or unresponsive
  • They may be breathing very slowly or not at all
  • Their lips and fingernails are blue
  • Their skin is cold and clammy
  • Their body is limp
  • They may be snoring or gurgling
  • They may throw up

If you witness an overdose, it is essential to contact 911 as a naloxone kit alone may not be enough to reverse the fatal effects of opioids. However, you can start administering naloxone while you wait for emergency services to arrive as every second counts when someone has overdosed. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act can provide some legal protection for individuals that seek emergency help during an overdose.

To learn more about naloxone overdose prevention kits and where you can find them, visit the Fentanyl page of the EOHU’s website at www.EOHU.ca, or visit www.ontario.ca/naloxone. You can also call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120.

As part of its public health mandate, the EOHU monitors the local situation regarding opioids and other drugs in the region in collaboration with a number of community partners, such as the CPS.

The Seeker

The Seeker

Next Post
Handy Items Every Yoga Enthusiast Would Love To Have

Handy Items Every Yoga Enthusiast Would Love To Have

Categories

  • Business & Finances (15)
  • Columns (636)
    • Archived (116)
      • Filter-Free Zone (10)
      • For What it's Worth (37)
      • Fostering Change (2)
      • Memo from the Mayor (2)
      • Men Writes (26)
      • Mortgage Tips (1)
      • Seeker Snippets (22)
      • Take Note (6)
      • Which Witch is Witch? (10)
    • Current (397)
      • Appreciating Contemporary Art (3)
      • Discover SD&G (36)
      • Fashionably Marlene (13)
      • From Sharyn's Pantry (7)
      • Gardening – Ask Anna (28)
      • Grant Spills the Gravy (10)
      • Jay's Tech & Cyber Insights (4)
      • Keeping it Reel (27)
      • Local Spins from Bud's Records (9)
      • Louise Mignault (58)
      • Mental Health Matters (11)
      • Out and About (51)
      • Outdoor Club (24)
      • Reality Bytes (8)
      • roadSIGNS (32)
      • Smart Move with Sondra (4)
      • The Resilient Life (5)
      • Transition Cornwall+ (16)
      • What I'm Reading (2)
      • Wondrous Life (34)
      • Yafa Arts & Craft (22)
    • Friends of the Cline House (2)
  • Douris Deliberations (6)
  • Events (1)
  • Health & Fitness (11)
  • Home & Garden (11)
  • Interviews (159)
    • 5 questions with… (106)
    • Business Profiles (2)
    • Locals in the Loupe (49)
  • Leisure & Lifestyle (736)
  • News (2,576)
    • Ontario (1)
  • Politics (24)
    • Federal Elections (10)
    • Provincial Elections (10)
  • Science & Technology (46)
  • Sports (3)
  • The Adventures of D.B Cooper (1)
  • The Soapbox (260)
    • Agree to Disagree (114)
  • This May Also Interest You (1,594)
  • Travel (52)
  • You May Also Like (971)
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom left corner!

Content Safety

HERO

theseeker.ca

Trustworthy

Approved by Sur.ly

2024
Disclaimers
Stock Photos partially provided by our partner Depositphotos
The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within.Please note that the views and opinions expressed in news article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Seeker. The content provided is for informational purposes only and has been written from the authors’ perspective, aiming to engage and inform readers. The Seeker is committed to presenting a wide range of viewpoints and encourages readers to conduct their own research and exercise critical thinking when considering these opinions in the context of their own perspectives.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos

© 2023 Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.