Vancouver Police issue warning after spike of overdoses in DTES
11 overdoses reported on Monday from a drug that appears to be purple in colour
A warning has been issued by police and health care providers after reports of 11 overdoses in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on Monday.
"The specific cause of the overdoses has yet to be determined [but] the suspected drug appears to be purple in colour and overdoses may be as a result of the consumption of fentanyl," said Vancouver Police Sgt. Randy Fincham in a statement.
None of the overdoses were fatal.
Fentanyl is a synthetic narcotic that has been linked to the deaths of hundreds of people in British Columbia this year alone.
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Police are reminding the public that if they see anyone they believe has taken illicit drugs also exhibiting signs of a fentanyl overdose — which include severe sleepiness, slow heartbeat, trouble breathing or snoring, clammy skin, and trouble with walking or talking — to call 9-1-1 immediately.