P.E.I. has 1 new confirmed fentanyl death, another possible: Morrison - Action News
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PEI

P.E.I. has 1 new confirmed fentanyl death, another possible: Morrison

Prince Edward Island has seen one confirmed death related to a fentanyl overdose since April, and another death is potentially related to the same powerful opioid drug, Dr. Heather Morrison has told CBC News.

Pilot project for safer drug use being discussed

Dr. Heather Morrison says family doctors, nurse practitioners and others at health PEI have been alerted about the presence of fentanyl on the Island. (Natalia Goodwin/CBC)

Prince Edward Island has seen one confirmed death related to a fentanyl overdose since April, and another death is potentially related to the same powerful opioid drug, Dr. Heather Morrison has told CBC News.

The province's chief public health officer says she is aware of seven other opioid-related overdoses in the province between April and June that have not resulted in death, and five of those involved fentanyl.

The confirmed fentanyl death involved a woman in her 20s.

Officials are still waiting for the toxicology results on the second death, so that case remains open. Coroners' reports can take 12 to 18 months to complete.

At a midday briefing Thursday, Morrison said she had been "having ongoing conversations about whether supervised injection sites is something to look at."

Meanwhile, PEERS Alliance in Charlottetown is working on plans for apilot projectthat might involve a hotline for drug users. It's still in the early stages, but the theory is people would call in before they use a drug, and the person who answers the hotline phone would stay on the line long enough to make sure the user hasn't gone into distress from the dose.

Dr. Heather Morrison answers questions on fentanyl overdoses at a briefing in Charlottetown Thursday. (Ken Linton/CBC)

Morrison has sent a note to family doctors, nurse practitionersand others at Health PEI alerting them to the recent ODs, and asking that they order tests for fentanyl if they suspectan overdose.

Morrison issued a public health alert on May 8, after three overdoses in one day were linked to the use of fentanyl.

In early June, when Morrison gave details of five overdoses, she said the victims were all using either heroin or cocaine that contained fentanyl, a powerful and sometimes deadly type of opioid.

More from CBC P.E.I.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story contained a subheading saying a pilot project was in the works focused on safe injection sites. The pilot project with PEERS Alliance, currently in the early planning stages, would actually involve a safe-use hotline.
    Jul 10, 2020 10:03 AM AT