5 taken to hospital for overdoses at Escapade opening day
1 person in critical condition, paramedics say
Five people were taken to hospital to be treated for overdoses on Saturday during the Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa.
Paramedics say one person is in critical condition and another is in serious condition because of overdoses involving GHB, a common street drug that has the potential to be fatal.
Day 1 of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Escapade2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Escapade2018</a> completed. Great teamwork with the organizers, <a href="https://twitter.com/CdnSkiPatrol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CdnSkiPatrol</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ottawahealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ottawahealth</a> to keep overdoses at a minimum. 5 OD taken to hospital, 1 critical and 1 serious, both due to GHB. None are life threatening. Other 3 were minor. Back at it tomorrow! <a href="https://t.co/tbbYMKrpng">pic.twitter.com/tbbYMKrpng</a>
—@OttawaParamedicNone of the five people's conditions were considered life-threatening, paramedics said.
Earlier this month, a 25-year-old man died from a suspected drug overdose during the Montebello Rockfest music festival in western Quebec.
Paramedics say that drug overdoses at the Escapade Music Festival have always been a problem.
Last year, 18 partygoers were treated during the two-night festival. Ten of those cases were related to drugs and alcohol.
On Sunday, paramedics said six people were hospitalized, two with non life-threatening overdoses.