Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Mayor Urges Community To Mobilize Against Opioid Crisis

Sarnia's mayor is calling on the community to mobilize and draw on all resources to address the opioid crisis that is claiming lives locally and across the country.

Mike Bradley is reacting after city police reported three overdoses within five hours Wednesday night that claimed one life and sent two others to hospital.

"This is a crisis and there's no question it's a crisis across the country where we've had several thousand people die from opioid use over the last year or so," says Bradley. "We need to address it. Sadly it has hit home here before, but now it's evident it's becoming this tidal wave of losses in the community. This simply cannot be allowed to happen."

Police say the drug that was purchased and used was thought to be cocaine, but is believed to have been laced with Fentanyl, although there has not been Health Canada lab confirmation of that yet.

Lambton Public Health hopes more individuals will take advantage of free Naloxone kits following news of the overdoses.

Supervisor Rhonda Galler says the kits and overdose prevention training can save lives.

"We're just seeing more and more opioid use in the community and we're hearing more and more of drugs that are laced with opioids," says Galler. "People that are using drugs, not even thinking that they're using opioids, are ending up with overdoses. It's frightening."

Kits and training are available to opioid users and friends and family at Lambton Public Health on Exmouth St. at Front St. during regular office hours.

Galler suggests calling the health unit to make an appointment.

The kits are also available at select pharmacies in the community.

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