Three deaths from suspected drug overdoses over the last three days have prompted London police to issue another warning about the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs.
Emergency crews found a 39-year-old woman dead and a man in critical condition at a home on Maitland St. around 12:20pm on Monday. That same day, police found an unidentified woman dead at a home on Wonderland Rd. S.
On Wednesday morning, investigators returned to the Maitland St. home as a follow up to their original investigation and found a man dead and another man in medical distress.
The two women and man are believed to have died from drug overdoses. The two others remain in hospital.
“At this point, we are waiting on toxicology results but we feel it is important to warn people immediately,” said Deputy Chief Steve Williams. “We don’t know if it is related to illicit opioid use or another drug, but once again, we are urging people to be careful if they are going to use any drug because we know fentanyl and carfentanil are in London.”
Since the start of the year, police have been called to five suspected drug overdose deaths.
“If you use illicit drugs, please reach out for help. If you know someone who does, please urge them to reach out for help,” said Williams. “Every death is just one more too many.”
Police believe fentanyl and other deadly opioids are being mixed in with other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and oxycodone without the users knowledge.
Signs of an overdose include difficulty walking, talking or staying awake, blue lips or nails, small pupils, dizziness and confusion, choking, gurgling or snoring sounds, and slow, weak or no breathing. Police advise anyone who is experiencing these symptoms or is with someone experiencing these symptoms to call 9-1-1 immediately.
Word of these latest deaths comes just days before health officials are to announce the site of a temporary overdose prevention facility. Once approved, the site will allow those who use injection drugs to do so in an environment in which they are supervised by health care workers in order to prevent overdose deaths.