Blood Ties Four Directions issued a toxic drug alert on Facebook and Instagram on Friday.

The alert stated, “This week, there have been an increased number of overdoses reported in the community.

“We have also tested a few opioid samples that contain higher then average percentages of fentanyl and are also benzo-positive.

“High concentrations of fentanyl and benzos increase the risk and severity of overdose.”

The alert also listed strategies for making substance use safer.

Regarding a significant increase in overdoses lately, Brontë Renwick-Shields, the executive director of the organization, told the Star today,

“The drug supply is unregulated and therefore is highly unpredictable.

“There are a number of factors that could affect the increase in overdoses. These can be related to the supply, as well as the personal circumstances of the individuals involved. We don’t have enough information on the recent deaths, or the current supply to be able to say this with certainty.”

Renwick-Shields added, “We have seen a few samples of fentanyl recently that have contained higher-than-average percentages of fentanyl and the presence of benzodiazepines. All of these samples were sold as fentanyl.”

When asked if there is a way to ensure a safe supply of drugs, Renwick-Shields replied, “There are ways of better understanding the supply such as drug checking.

“However, the only way to ensure a safer supply of drugs is to provide a regulated supply. This is comparable to other legal substances such as alcohol, which are regulated supplies.

“Alcohol consumption always has some risk involved, but people are able to determine their dose as they know the percentage of alcohol contained in the beverage they are consuming and that it does not contain other substances that are unexpected.

“This allows people to make informed choices and takes away a significant risk of unpredictability.”

Renwick-Shields recommends people who use drugs get their drugs checked. Drug checking is available at the supervised consumption site.

“If using at the SCS isn’t possible, use with other people who have a naloxone kit and know how to use it and carry one yourself,” Renwick-Shields added.

“If it’s not possible to use with others, then call the NORS (National Overdose Response Service) line and they will be able to monitor you.

“Make sure to use your own harm reduction equipment and don’t share. I also recommend that people start with a lower dose than usual and see how that feels before taking their full dose and if they are using with others, stagger their consumption so that someone is able to respond.”

The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) number is 1-888-688-NORS (6677).