Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
National

Fentanyl Continues To Claim B.C. Lives Despite Education: Police

The Canadian Press, 08 Dec, 2015 11:18 AM
    Vancouver police say too many people are dying from fentanyl-laced drugs, despite ongoing education and awareness campaigns.
     
    Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat pain, and Health Canada says its abuse or misuse, even in small amounts, can cause death.
     
    The BC Coroners Service says fentanyl killed about 90 people in British Columbia between January and August this year.
     
    Sixteen of those deaths were recorded in Vancouver, while 10 died in Surrey, nine in Nanaimo and eight in Maple Ridge.
     
    Vancouver police Sgt. Randy Fincham says fentanyl is imported in powder form, pressed into pills and sold on the streets as counterfeit OxyContin, but it can also be found in heroin and cocaine.  
     
    He says the key to saving lives is continuing to educate users about the drug.
     
    "If they are going to choose to use an illicit drug or an unregulated drug, that they have some safety measures in place," says Fincham. 
     
    "That if there is an overdose or somebody does have an adverse reaction, that they are able to get help right away, have somebody phone 911."
     
    Police in Delta, B.C, issued a warning over the weekend after two people used cocaine and inadvertently overdosed on fentanyl. 

    MORE National ARTICLES

    State-Of-The-Art Surrey Tennis Centre Opens In Newton

    State-Of-The-Art Surrey Tennis Centre Opens In Newton
    Surrey, BC – The new state-of-the-art, 12-court Surrey Tennis Centre officially opened its doors on Saturday. 

    State-Of-The-Art Surrey Tennis Centre Opens In Newton

    Military Investigative Unit Joins In Search For Missing Nova Scotia Sailor Benoit Bilodeau

    Military Investigative Unit Joins In Search For Missing Nova Scotia Sailor Benoit Bilodeau
    Leading seaman Benoit Bilodeau, 48, was last seen walking near a bus stop in front of 12 Wing Shearwater on Nov. 21.

    Military Investigative Unit Joins In Search For Missing Nova Scotia Sailor Benoit Bilodeau

    $34.88 Billion In Profits And Other Key Numbers For Canada's Big Banks

    $34.88 Billion In Profits And Other Key Numbers For Canada's Big Banks
    Despite concerns that the sluggish economy, tapped out borrowers and low interest rates could dampen the profitability of Canadian banks

    $34.88 Billion In Profits And Other Key Numbers For Canada's Big Banks

    Manitoba Children's Advocate Will Have New Power To Monitor Kids

    Manitoba Children's Advocate Will Have New Power To Monitor Kids
    WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is following through on a promise to give the children's advocate more power.

    Manitoba Children's Advocate Will Have New Power To Monitor Kids

    Rising Estimated Costs For 15 Canadian Warships No Surprise: Naval Expert

    Rising Estimated Costs For 15 Canadian Warships No Surprise: Naval Expert
    Ken Hansen, a research fellow with the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies at Halifax's Dalhousie University, is responding to a media report on the price tag.

    Rising Estimated Costs For 15 Canadian Warships No Surprise: Naval Expert

    New Certified Guide-dog Rules Protect Rights Of Handlers: B.C. Government

    New Certified Guide-dog Rules Protect Rights Of Handlers: B.C. Government
    British Columbia has introduced new rules to increase fines for restaurants, transit and other businesses that violate the rights of people who use certified guide-dogs.

    New Certified Guide-dog Rules Protect Rights Of Handlers: B.C. Government