Bad drugs suspected in 5 recent deaths
Emergency department visits related to drug poisonings have also increased this year
There were five suspected drug-poisoning deaths in March in Peterborough city, county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nation — adding up to 18 local deaths in the first three months of 2024.
There were six suspected drug-poisoning deaths in the Peterborough Public Health (PPH) jurisdiction in February, and seven in January.
According to the latest data from the PPH website, there’s now one suspected drug-poisoning death locally every six days (down from one death every five days through 2023).
In 2023, there was a total of 78 suspected drug-poisoning deaths in the Peterborough area.
Meanwhile, emergency department visits related to drug poisonings have increased lately. There were 48 emergency department visits in March 2024, up from 38 in February, and 31 in January.
More data about emergency department visits over the last 12 months (April, 2023 to March, 2024) by people in the PPH jurisdiction:
■ 59 per cent of visits were made by men.
■ 58 per cent of visits were made by people aged 25 to 44.
■ 48 per cent of visits were made between 4 p.m. and midnight.
■ 88 per cent of visits by people living in the PPH jurisdiction, over suspected drug poisonings, over the last 12 months, were made to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
Thirty-three calls to 911 were made in March by people living in the PPH jurisdiction, over suspected drug poisonings.
That’s about the same number of 911 calls for drug poisonings made in February but less than in January, when there were 19 calls.
“One of the dangers of the drug poisoning crisis is the
There’s now one suspected drug-poisoning death locally every six days
unpredictability in how drugs have been tainted and the effects that may cause,” said Carolyn Doris, manager of family and community health for the PPH, in an email to The Examiner on Thursday.
“In the last month, five people have lost their lives. These preventable deaths impact family, friends, and our community. We are fortunate to have harmreduction services in our community that are proven to save lives and do save lives every day,” Doris said in her email.
“However, the systemic issues that contribute to the drug poisoning crisis require every level of government to collaborate and work urgently to address people’s basic needs including income, health care and housing.”
The PPH states there are places to go for help locally to check what substances are contained in street drugs. Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment site (220 Simcoe St.) offers that service Monday (9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Tuesday (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
The consumption and treatment site also has strips to check for fentanyl, benzos (benzodiazepines) and xylazine, and offers the strips during regular hours of operation from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Harm-reduction support
■ Support is available at Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment site — 220 Simcoe St., open 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
■ National Overdose Response Service Line: 1-888-688-6677.
■ Krasman Centre (peer crisis support services, based in Richmond Hill): 1-888-777-0979.
Crisis support
■ 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text 9-8-8, any time of day or night).
■ Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough: 705-745-2273 (also open 24/7).