Ontario Provincial Police are reporting multiple overdoses have occurred in Belleville and other parts of eastern Ontario this week.
They are urging the public that if they or someone they know may be experiencing an overdose, don’t hesitate – call 911. Police remind residents of The Good Samaritan Act.
Emergency services responded to 14 overdose in downtown Belleville yesterday, 13 of which occurred between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. No deaths were reported.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA), which became law in May 2017, provides some legal protection for individuals who seek emergency help during an overdose. The intention of the Act is to reduce fear of police attending overdose events and embolden people to seek life-saving assistance and stay with the victim in the event of an overdose.