Drug overdoses spike in capital in 2024
Fredericton police, fire departments warn of increased presence, use of fentanyl in city
Fredericton’s emergency responders are sounding the alarm about the rising prevalence of fentanyl in the capital and an associated increase in the number of drug overdoses in the community.
The Fredericton Police Force (FPF) and the Fredericton Fire Department (FFD) issued a joint news release Tuesday morning to alert members of the public about “a significant increase” in overdoses.
“So far this year, police have responded to 60 drug-overdose calls requiring medical intervention, compared to 2023, where officers responded to a total of 64 overdoses,” the release said.
“FFD have also noted a marked increase and have responded to 104 overdose calls to date in 2024, compared to 78 in 2023 at the same time.”
Just this summer, the police force reported, officers have scrambled to deal with the spike in overdose-related calls. The release said since the start of June, officers responded to 25 such calls, and one of them involved a 14-year-old.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that there has been an increased use of fentanyl, a potent, unpredictable and often lethal opioid,” it said, urging drug users to be extremely cautious when using narcotics.
“NARCAN, an emergency medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is carried by all police, fire and emergency first responders, and is a critical measure in saving lives during an overdose,” the police and fire departments indicated.
The increased use of NARCAN corresponds with the increase in fentanyl in the local drug supply, the release said.
“In many instances, more than one dose is being administered, and in extreme cases, up to five doses were required to counteract the effects of the overdose,” it said.
A key element in dealing with the crisis, police and fire said, was timely intervention by members of the public.
The police force said the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects those providing emergency support in overdose incidents from legal ramifications.
“We urge anyone using drugs to be aware of the increased risk and to seek help if needed,” the release said.
“We also encourage friends and family members of those at risk to reach out to local health services for support and information.”
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