On Monday evening, January 9, 2023, Winnipeg Police Service Cadets were flagged down and told about an unconscious male in a bus shelter in the Graham Avenue Transitway.

The cadets located the unresponsive 26-year-old male and realized that he may be the victim of a possible opioid overdose. They called for paramedics and also administered two doses of Narcan Nasal Spray (Naloxone). When General patrol officers arrived on the scene additional doses of Narcan were administered and the male regained consciousness. The man was taken to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police say that officers learned the male had overdosed on a fentanyl-based street drug known as Down. Down has been responsible for multiple overdoses and sudden death events throughout Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Police Service encourages anyone who witnesses or experiences a drug overdose to call 911 right away. Police say that under the Good Samaritan, Drug Overdose Act anyone at the scene or who seeks emergency help for an overdose has some legal protection.

Never use drugs alone and if opioids are present always carry naloxone. For more information on where to find Naloxone please visit Street Connections website or Manitoba Take Home Naloxone Distribution Program site

As part of the ongoing battle against opioid overdoses the City of Winnipeg says that select staff members at Libraries, Recreation and Leisure Centres, Indoor Pools and Fitness Centres can now administer Naloxone while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Naloxone is a fast-acting drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, and restore breathing within two to five minutes. Naloxone is safe for all ages, and only works if you have opioids — such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine, or codeine — in your system.