6 new cases of potential opioid overdoses reported in Ottawa over the weekend

The Ottawa Hospital sayssix more people have been treated for potential opioid overdoses thisweekend, following a spike in such cases earlier in the week and awarning from the city's public health agency.

As of 1:30 p.m. Sunday, there had beenfive new cases at the Civic Hospital in the last 48 hoursand one case reported at the General Campus, a hospital spokeswoman told CBC News.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) also confirmed the numbers reported by the hospital and said the cases were either life-threatening or potentially life-threatening.

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The six new cases are in addition to the 15 cases that OPH recorded from April 18 to 20, which prompted a public service announcement warning residents about a "surge" in cases that some health officials suspect are linked to the deadly opioidfentanyl.

While the healthunit isstill waiting for toxicology results, OPH said in a statement this week that when there is a sudden increase in the number of emergency department visits in a short period of time, "there is always a possibility of counterfeit drugs being cut with opioids."

Patients required high doses of naloxone

Another cause for concern is that some of the patients required high doses of naloxone, an antidote that reverses the harmful and potentially fatal effects of an overdose.

Naloxone kits are available for free for members of the public at local pharmacies.

The city-run Overdose Prevention and Response Task Force monitors drug overdoses daily in the event that a sudden spike warrants a public warning.

Peter MacDougall, the Ottawa Hospital's director of pain medicine, said on Friday the latest spike could suggest an increased supply of fentanyl oreven more potent carfentanilhas made its way onto Ottawa's streets.

"When you hear [of] near-misses, you know that if it continues, at some point they're not going to be misses," MacDougall said.

"And I'm very worried that we will see an increase in tragedies around this."

Ottawa police confirmed Friday they are investigating the latest cases.