**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

In the last 24 hours, the Timmins Police Service has responded to numerous incidents where persons were in medical distress due to the consumption of illicit substances. In all, eight persons required immediate first aid from Timmins Police Service officers as they attended the scene of these calls for service.

Of those, 5 were later revived by EMS paramedics at the various scenes, while sadly, 3 others succumbed to the lethal elements consumed and did not survive.
Based on the above, the Timmins Police Service has found it necessary to issue a Public Advisory strenuously urging all citizens to be mindful that certain substances currently circulating within the drug sub-culture in Timmins can be fatal if consumed.

The Timmins Police Service issue this advisory in direct consultation with our drug strategy community partners, the Porcupine Health Unit in particular, to address this issue as a direct threat to the welfare of persons afflicted with substance abuse addition or those prone to experimentation with illicit substances.

In regards to our current collaborations, the following is provided by the Porcupine Health Unit in regards to this issue. The Opioid Emergency Response Task Force has been monitoring the increase in suspected opioid related overdoses across the Porcupine Health Unit area since April. There has been an ongoing alert shared with community partners and the public.

Naloxone, the life-saving drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, is available at all health unit offices, pharmacies and partners across the region. If you use substances, the health unit offers some important recommendations to help reduce the risk, including not using alone; avoid mixing substances; test a small amount first; and carry naloxone.

The health unit urges community members to please share this alert — talk with loved ones about the current concerns regarding increased overdose risk, with any substances, not just opioids. Please have naloxone on hand, recognize an opioid overdose, call 911, save a life.
Additionally, the Timmins Police Service – Drug Enforcement Section is actively working on
current drug cases to locate any persons actively involved in the sale or distribution of such
substances.

Furthermore, the Timmins Police Service reminds all citizens that in cases of suspected
overdose, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides protections to those persons
rendering assistance to those persons in distress. These persons can remain on scene to
provide continued assistance and not be subjected to arrest for simply being in possession of
prescribed amounts of controlled substances.

Filed under: Local News