Tainted Substances Circulating in PHU Area

Timmins, Ontario — Monday, March 18, 2024

The Porcupine Health Unit along with key partners of the Opioid Emergency Task Force are advising ALL people who use substances, even if only recreationally, that tainted substances are circulating causing opioid poisonings (overdoses).  

Seamus Murphy, Deputy Chief for the Cochrane District Paramedic Service is urging people who use drugs to be vigilant with their use and to always carry Naloxone. He continued to say that — as in most of Ontario — “recreational street drugs are tainted.”  

Drugs such as crack, cocaine, speed, meth, and MDMA may contain toxic substances. Even if you don’t use these substances often, poisonings (overdoses) can be fatal. Carrying multiple doses of naloxone, not using alone, avoiding mixing substances, and testing a small amount of the drug first are ways to lower your risk of an opioid poisoning (overdose).  

During this drug poisoning crisis, any substance may be tainted. Because a fatal overdose can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone, protect yourself. If you must use alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-6677. The service is free and available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.