Within the last week the LaSalle Police Service responded to two separate incidents of overdoses involving suspected Purple Fentanyl. In one incident, the victim, an adult male was unresponsive upon police arrival at their residence. A LaSalle Police Officer who was first on scene, administered two doses of Naloxone via nasal spray to the victim which revived them. Paramedics were called to the scene and the male was transported to the hospital for further treatment. The male is expected to recover. In a second incident, an adult female was also found to be unresponsive inside her residence by family members. Naloxone and CPR was administered by the family members prior to first responders arriving on scene. Police, Fire and Paramedics rushed to the residence where they continued treating the victim. The victim was transported to the hospital for further treatment. Sadly, the female did not survive, succumbing to the effects of the powerful opioid.

Fentanyl is a powerful and potent opioid that should only be administered under the guidance of a physician. It is 100 times more potent than morphine and ingesting it for recreational use can cause death.

The LaSalle Police Service is informing the public that obtaining Fentanyl other than from a physician by prescription is not only illegal, it can be deadly. Fentanyl obtained from any other source is not controlled or regulated and may contain an unknown dosage of the drug leading to overdoses and death.

Narcan or Naloxone can be obtained from many pharmacies free of charge however it is not a cure-all. It is a short lived opioid antagonist that, in some instances, gives the victim some time to get to a hospital for emergency treatment. Once the Narcan dissipates in the body the effects of the overdose may continue. If you find yourself in a situation where you have had to use or administer Narcan, please seek immediate medical assistance.

The Windsor Police Service recently reported a significant seizure of Fentanyl which can be seen here:
https://www.police.windsor.on.ca/newsroom/news-update/june/Pages/June-12-2020-Update-1.aspx

The LaSalle Police Service remains committed to working with the public to hold those who traffic in illicit drugs responsible for their actions.

Anyone with information about drug crimes is encouraged to contact the LaSalle Police Service at 519 969-5210 or anonymous tips can be made at Crime Stoppers at 519 258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com