Brant County’s health authority has issued a public safety alert after the region saw a surge in suspected opioid-related drug poisonings.
Between June 1 and June 10, there were 19 suspected opioid poisonings in the region and two deaths.
The Brant County health unit issued a community warning on Monday, saying that this is a higher number of suspected drug poisonings than what is typical for a period of this length.
“Please use caution when using any type of drug that is not prescribed to you,” reads part of the notice.
“If you are new to drug use, you are particularly at risk should you use drugs that may have unpredictable potency or contain unexpected and dangerous contaminants.”
The health authority says the substance has yet to be identified.
According to the data shared on their website, Brant’s opioid-related deaths are higher than the provincial average.
As of April this year, Brant’s rate is 4.34 per 100,000 people, while Ontario’s average is 1.97.
Several pharmacies and healthcare centres in Brantford offer Naloxone kits free of charge.
To find a location near you, click here.