Northern Health has issued an urgent warning for residents of the entire Health Authority region this morning, advising of some contaminated street drugs that have been observed by health officials in communities of the North.
The drug Benzodiazepines or “Benzos" as it is known on the street is the drug of concern for health officials who note that residents who currently use or are considering using drugs need to be aware of the dangers of overdose that the batch that is out there can provide.
As Northern Health explains it, the impact of the drug is as follows:
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a type of medication that "depresses" or slows down your brain activity. When benzos are mixed with opioids (down) there is a higher risk of overdose. Individuals who have overdosed using drugs contaminated with benzos may be difficult to rouse and slow to respond to naloxone.
Should you suspect someone is experiencing a benzos-related overdose incident, Northern Health outlines the steps you need to take to deliver immediate assistance.
Call 9-1-1 for help.
Open airway and give rescue breaths
Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it
Further notes on the serious nature of the Benzos issues can be reviewed from this information piece from Northern Health.
More items of interest from Northern Health can be explored here.
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