Three dead from drug overdoses in Durham

Regional police believe a trio of fatal overdoses in Durham Region may be related to fentanyl.

Three men were found dead in two separate incidents early-Friday morning.

At approximately 3:40 a.m., police were called to an apartment complex on Falby Court in Ajax. Two men, one his 40s and the other in his 20s, were found deceased in an apartment. Drug paraphernalia was also discovered at the scene.

Later at approximately 6:40 a.m., police responded to a call in Bomanville, where a man in his 20s was found deceased, believed to have died of a drug overdose.

Based on evidence and information from witnesses, the deaths could be linked to fentanyl, says Durham Regional Police Const. George Tudos, however, nothing can be confirmed until results from post-mortems on the three men are complete.

The latest deaths are part of a recent spike in drug-related incidents across Durham Region, with police reporting four fatal and 12 non-fatal overdoses in the past two weeks.

In June, police suspected eight overdoses in a two-day span were possibly caused by cocaine laced with fentanyl, a potentially-deadly opioid, or a similar substance.

Tudos says fentanyl can easily be mixed with any other recreational drug.

“It doesn’t discriminate…anybody can be a victim,” Tudos added. “Such a tiny trace can be fatal.”

In response to the rise in overdoses, regional emergency services personnel such as police, firefighters and paramedics have begun to carry naxolone, a medication which temporarily blocks the effects of opioids.

Tudos is hopeful these types of incidents will raise awareness about the danger of fentanyl.

“We encourage parents to speak with their children. Hopefully sharing information about these instances will help spread the message,” Tudos says.