Regina woman dead of suspected overdose

Another suspected overdose death in Regina — this one a 19-year-old woman — has police warning of the dangers of opioids currently available in the community.

According to information released by the Regina Police Service on Thursday, fentanyl and carfentanil are said to have been present in the woman’s system.

The woman — whose name was not released — died sometime March 10 or 11. Police responded shortly after 1 a.m. on March 11 to a residence on the 1400 block of Elphinstone Street. Fire crews and EMS were already present following a report of an unresponsive female.

She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

Although the cause and manner of death have not been absolutely determined, police and the coroner’s office opted to warn the public due to the presence of the drugs.

Expedited test results indicated the presence of fentanyl and carfentanil — renewing a call to the public to be wary of the consequences of illicit drug use, and asking those connected to users to have a safety plan due to the “higher-than-usual potential” for drug overdose.

Symptoms of an opioid overdose can include slow or no breathing, gurgling, gasping or snoring, clammy, cool skin, and blue lips or nails.

Anyone seeing a person exhibiting those symptoms is asked to call 911.

Anyone with information that could help police combat the presence of these drugs in the community or locate those responsible for selling it — as well as anyone with information on this specific investigation — is asked to call the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.