Police and firefighters in our province’s capital have issued a fentanyl overdose alert.
First responders in Fredericton have seen a big increase in drug overdoses this year.
Police have responded to 60 calls so far this year, compared to 64 in all of 2023.
That includes 25 overdose-related calls since the beginning of June, including one involving a 14-year-old.
Firefighters have also been called to 104 overdoses so far this year, up from 78 during the same period last year.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that there has been an increased use of fentanyl, a potent, unpredictable and often lethal opioid,” the Fredericton Police Force and Fredericton Fire Department said in a joint news release.
First responders are also seeing an increase in the use of NARCAN, an emergency medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
But they also noted that it is often taking multiple doses — sometimes as many as five — to counteract the effects of the overdose.
Police remind the public that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides legal protection to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing the overdose.
The act provides some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call first responders for help.
