Ottawa paramedic leader Darryl Wilton says not a day goes by in 2022 that doesn’t involve a call related to overdose.
They say that although an excessive number of Ottawa The area remains stagnant, the supply of the drug has become more toxic and antidotes such as naloxone are becoming less effective.
Wilton, president of Ottawa’s Professional Paramedic Association, says his team is increasingly seeing Valium being used with narcotics like benzodiazepines, a combination that may require intensive care in a hospital.
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit, which serves communities just west of the city, issued an overdose alert on Monday warning residents about “life-threatening” drugs circulating in the area.
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The county’s acting medical officer of health says that last week, paramedics responded to four overdose calls, alarming for the area.
Some safe consumption sites in Ottawa say they are looking to expand their hours of operation, but they are already struggling to meet the demand for their services.
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