Spike in Moncton overdose calls raises concerns drug supply may have tranquillizers
Moncton, N.B. experienced a significant spike in overdose calls over the weekend, with 52 incidents reported compared to the usual four or five daily. Authorities suspect that a tranquillizer may be present in the drug supply, potentially medetomidine, which is not intended for human use. Local officials are monitoring the situation and collaborating with health organizations to address the crisis.
- ▪Moncton's fire department received 52 overdose calls over the weekend, a drastic increase from the typical daily average.
- ▪Fire Chief Conrad Landry described the situation as one of the worst he has seen in eight years.
- ▪Ensemble Moncton suspects that the drug supply may contain a strong tranquillizer, possibly medetomidine.
- ▪New Brunswick's Department of Health is working with partners to understand the situation and ensure community safety.
- ▪Concerns were raised about the fire department's capacity to handle the surge in medical calls.
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Moncton, N.B.’s fire department responded to 52 overdose calls over the weekend when it usually only receives four or five a day. And it’s suspected some sort of tranquillizer in the drug supply is to blame, according to Ensemble Moncton, a harm reduction organization that runs the city’s drug overdose prevention site.Moncton fire Chief Conrad Landry says it was one of the worst few days he’s seen in his eight years on the job, in terms of responding to overdoses.Since Monday, Landry says the number of calls has come down, so he hopes it was just a “bad batch.”“Yesterday, around noon, we were at about 10. I didn’t look at the number after that.
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