An opioid overdose alert is being issued for the City of Kawartha Lakes after a noticeable increase in overdoses over the past seven days.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit Substances and Harm Reduction Coordinator Leslie McLaughlin, says they’re issuing the alert to inform the community to take precautions.
The opioid overdose alert automatically flags increases in overdoses for community partners and first responders, which triggers enhanced outreach efforts and distribution of naloxone kits.
Anyone who sees a person overdosing is also urged to intervene. Call 9-1-1 and give the person naloxone. The Good Samaritan Act protects anyone trying to help in an emergency from possible legal repercussions. It also protects people on the scene of an overdose from being charged for possessing or using drugs.
**Written by Rick Lowes