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Northern Health and the First Nations Health Authority have issued a drugs alert.
The alert concerns illegal benzodiazepines – often called simply “benzos” – which can be lethal when mixed in with opioids.
“People who have overdosed using drugs contaminated with benzos may be difficult to rouse, may remain unconscious and slow to respond to naloxone,” the alert reads.
“Giving naloxone is recommended in case an opioid is also present.”
If you suspect someone is experiencing a benzos-related overdose, it is important to:
Call 911 for help.
Open airway and give rescue breaths, continue giving breaths if needed
Give naloxone if you have it, multiple doses might be needed but only give more doses if the person is not breathing at least 10 times a minute
For more information, see the Toward the Heart resource: Benzos with Opioids.