Drug overdose suspected in death of boy at Cole Harbour home: RCMP

Drug overdose is believed to be the cause of a boy’s death at a Cole Harbour residence on Sunday, RCMP say. 

On Sunday at about 12:45 p.m., RCMP arrived at a home in Cole Harbour where one youth was pronounced dead, according to a news release issued by the Mounties on Monday.

Two other youths – a boy and a girl – showed symptoms of overdose and were sent to hospital by ambulance, according to RCMP.

Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay, spokesman for Halifax RCMP, said the name and age of the boy who died are not being released.

A small quantity of unknown substances in pill and powder form and drug paraphernalia were seized at the property, RCMP said.  

At about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, RCMP responded to another suspected overdose at the home of a 34-year-old Cole Harbour man. Officers administered multiple doses of Naloxone and the man was rushed to hospital by paramedics for treatment.

Tremblay said investigators don’t know whether the same drugs were used in both incidents. No drugs were seized at the second home.  

“We wouldn’t be able to know at this time if it’s from the same source,” Tremblay said. “That would be something that would have to be done through the lab.” 

An investigation into the death is being led by members of the RCMP-Halifax Regional Police criminal investigation division, with assistance from the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service. 

RCMP are warning the public of the dangers of illicit drug use, saying street drugs often contain unknown substances and may be of various strengths or dosages.

If you suspect an overdose or see someone in medical distress, call 911 immediately. 

Common signs of a drug overdose could include slow or absent breathing, blue or grey lips and fingers, dizziness and confusion, severe drowsiness or an inability to wake a person up, and snoring, choking or gurgling noise

Naloxone is a temporary antidote for opioid overdoses that buys time to seek medical assistance, but it doesn’t replace medical treatment. If not taken to hospital, an overdose victim can fall back into the overdose within 30 minutes.

Naloxone kits are available free of charge through the Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone Program. Information on the program and where to obtain a kit is available on the program’s website.