Toronto Police issue public safety alert following spike in overdose deaths
Toronto police have issued a warning about a batch of dangerous narcotics being sold in the downtown core after seven overdose deaths occurred in just the past 12 days.
Police say since Thursday, August 2, officers have been called to a number of overdoses, seven of which have proven fatal.
Public Safety Alert~Between Thurs Aug2~Tues Aug14, 2018 Toronto Police responded to numerous overdose calls~7 OD fatalities in downtown Toronto during this time~Believed caused by Fentanyl or Carfentanil~Official Overdose Prevention/Response: https://t.co/XelNYSsYXC #Toronto ^sm pic.twitter.com/LqOaWeRNEe
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) August 15, 2018
According to police, it’s believed the drugs responsible are a deadly batch of fentanyl or carfentanil. Particularly the dangerous carfentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Data from Toronto Public Health shows that 303 people died in 2017 due to opioid-related causes, up from 186 in 2016.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.