Peterborough health unit issues alert following overdose spike – Peterborough [Video]

A spike in reported overdoses late last week has prompted another drug poisoning alert for the Peterborough, Ont., area.

Peterborough Public Health says on May 3, its early warning surveillance system reported eight drug-related overdoses that required either a visit to an emergency department or a response call by paramedics. The health unit serves Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation.

The health unit says two substances — either light yellow and pink or light green — are being sold as the street-drug “down.”

The substances have tested positive for benzos and fentanyl. They are also suspected to contain bromazolam, a derivative of benzodiazepine, which is a powerful sedative that is not approved for medical use in Canada.

Health officials warn the drug can have serious adverse effects, such as death, if taken with other opioids.

The health unit cautions that naloxone cannot reverse the effects of sedatives but it can …