Alberta First Nation issues alert following dozens of drug overdoses

STAND OFF, Alta. _ An Indigenous community in southeastern Alberta has issued a community alert following dozens of suspected opioid overdoses, including one death.

The Blood Tribe Police Service says it responded to 22 overdoses between Tuesday and Thursday.

And the Blood Tribe EMS says it responded to more than 50 calls during the same time period.

First responders say a form of carfentanil, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been found mixed with an unknown substance.

Officials are asking people on the Stand Off reserve to be careful if they are going to use drugs.

Police chief Kyle Melting Tallow is encouraging people to report all drug activity and traffickers.

“Drug traffickers continue to prey on our community,” he said Friday in a post on Facebook.

“They take advantage of our vulnerable and the socio-economic situation in the community. Many people are caught in the cycle of addiction and do not know how to seek help.”

Earlier this year the community declared a state of emergency after a rash of overdoses from carfentanil.

Stand Off is Canada’s largest reserve and the Blood Tribe has about 10,000 members.

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