First responders in the Greater Moncton area are facing a two-week surge in overdoses, with Vitalité Health Network issuing a warning on Thursday about a suspected contaminant in the local drug supply. The network reported that illicit drugs may be laced with medetomidine, a veterinary tranquilizer, leading to severe health risks.
According to Vitalité, the spike has been unprecedented, with emergency services responding to multiple overdose calls daily. The network advised the public to carry naloxone and avoid using drugs alone, as medetomidine does not respond to standard opioid reversal agents.
Local harm reduction groups have confirmed the trend, noting that the contaminated supply has increased the need for medical intervention. The exact number of overdoses has not been released, but officials emphasize the urgency of the situation.
