Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 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

    Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog

    Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog
    TORONTO — Canadians had fewer official complaints about their wireless communication services but more concerns about their Internet plans, according to the latest report from the telecom industry's consumer watchdog.

    Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog

    Former Calgary Hospital Worker Charged With Accessing Information On 240 People

    Former Calgary Hospital Worker Charged With Accessing Information On 240 People
    EDMONTON — A former Calgary hospital worker is facing 26 counts of accessing the health information of more than 200 people.

    Former Calgary Hospital Worker Charged With Accessing Information On 240 People

    Canadian Woman Honours Stranger Who Died After Paying For Her Groceries

    Canadian Woman Honours Stranger Who Died After Paying For Her Groceries
    Jamie-Lynne Knighten says Matthew Jackson stepped up to pay her $200-bill on Nov. 10 after her credit cards were declined at the cash register.

    Canadian Woman Honours Stranger Who Died After Paying For Her Groceries

    Canada Needs Strategy To Combat Influence Of Money In U.S. Politics: Ambassador

    OTTAWA — Canada's ambassador to the U.S. says this country needs to find a way to combat the influence of big money in American politics, which is getting in the way of the interests of both countries.

    Canada Needs Strategy To Combat Influence Of Money In U.S. Politics: Ambassador

    Dark, Rainy Conditions Before Serious Langley Crash That Injured Driver: Police

    Dark, Rainy Conditions Before Serious Langley Crash That Injured Driver: Police
    RCMP say an eastbound Toyota Tacoma collided with a northbound Subaru Impreza just before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

    Dark, Rainy Conditions Before Serious Langley Crash That Injured Driver: Police

    Ontario Auditor Finds Hydro Consumers Pay Billions Extra For Liberal's Decisions

    TORONTO — Auditor general Bonnie Lysyk says electricity customers in Ontario have paid billions of dollars for the Liberal government's decisions to ignore its own planning process for new power generation projects.

    Ontario Auditor Finds Hydro Consumers Pay Billions Extra For Liberal's Decisions