Ottawa Public Health is warning residents about the dangers of opioid use after a spike in suspected fentanyl overdoses across the city has swamped hospitals this week. The Ottawa Hospital alone has seen seven suspected fentanyl cases in the last 48 hours – five at the Civic's trauma centre, and two at the General Campus. While the task force couldn't officially confirm the overdoses were caused by opioid use, Ottawa Public Health said the spate of recent hospitalizations does raise that possibility. Ottawa Public Health officials at the meeting gave a half-hour information session on fentanyl and counterfeit prescription drugs. ""Ottawa [Public] Health should be telling us, so we know," O'Leary said.

Source: CBC News April 21, 2017 18:23 UTC