Winnipeg police are investigating the death of a man who may have accidently overdosed on fentanyl.
Over the weekend, police were alerted to an incident at a private residence in which one man died and another man required immediate hospitalization.
On Monday, police said it could take weeks to confirm if the overdoses are the result of fentanyl.
“It’s not CSI. We don’t find out the next day. So we won’t know for a bit. We wish we did,” said Const. Rob Carver from Winnipeg police.
The reason police believe fentanyl may have been responsible is because of the reaction time associated with the drug.
Police said both men experienced a reaction very soon after ingesting a drug, which is typical of overdoses linked with fentanyl.
“In a case where a recreational drug user has an almost instantaneous medical crisis based on drug use, that’s one of the key points were looking at for fentanyl,” said Carver.
It’s believed fentanyl may have been used to cut cocaine, which can be cheaper than using the other alternatives to make the drug.
Fentanyl is no longer suspected in third overdose reported Saturday.
Over the past three years, there has been a progressive increase in the number of illicit drug overdose deaths in which fentanyl is detected.
According to Knowyoursource.ca, a website created by the Vancouver Police Department and the BC Centre for Disease Control, fentanyl is a “synthetic opiate narcotic, a prescription drug used primarily for cancer patients in severe pain. It is roughly 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine.”
On Monday, Aug 10, a total of 16 drug overdoses, including six in a single hour, were reported in Vancouver with fentanyl being the suspected culprit.
Early signs of a fentanyl overdose include:
* Severe sleepiness
* Slow heartbeat
* Trouble breathing, or slow, shallow breathing or snoring
* Cold, clammy skin
* Trouble walking or talking
While Winnipeg police advise against the use of illicit drugs, people who do use these drugs should be sure to:
* Don’t use alone
* Start with a small amount
* Mixing substances, including alcohol, increases overdose risk
* Call 911 right away if someone overdoses
Spike in overdoses
Roland Vandal is a former addict. He said the dangers of illegal drugs in Winnipeg are constantly evolving.
Now 13 years sober, he works with youth and people struggling with addictions.
"There's so much out there right now. Now it's the fentanyl problem," said Vandal from where he works at Red Road.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said fentanyl use has spiked in Manitoba the past two years.
Medical officer of health Dr. Joss Reimer said the province averages about 10 fatal drug overdoses a month and about 100 a year, and fentanyl can't be ignored.
"I'm not surprised to hear about this death this weekend because we already know deaths are going on and worried for sure about the people at risk," said Reimer.
