Article content A local task force that keeps data on medical emergency calls related to drug overdoses is reporting a spike in fatalities in recent weeks. “Through information received from emergency services, an increase in suspected opioid overdoses having fatal outcomes has been identified in Timmins and the surrounding area,” the Opioid Emergency Response Task Force stated in an alert issued Wednesday. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser. Increase in suspected opioid overdoses reported in Timmins area Back to video The task force issued a similar alert in January in which it reported an “increase in deaths tied to purple heroin and other substances possibly containing opioids like fentanyl.”