Pubdate: Thu, 16 Feb 2017
Source: Packet, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2017 Transcontinental Media
Contact:  http://www.thepacket.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4041
Author: Colin Farrell
Page: 16

EDUCATION IS KEY SAYS RCMP OFFICER

If there was ever a time that people needed to talk to their kids
about drugs it would be now.

The importance of education and communication were the key topics
brought up during an information session on the drug fentanyl held at
The Merge on Feb. 9.

Staff Sgt. Dale Foote, of the Burin Peninsula detachment of the RCMP,
was one of the invited speakers for the evening.

"Everyone thinks that the overdose at the hospital is going to be the
individual that is addicted to drugs, that's not (always) that case,"
said Foote during his presentation.

"We're living in a time right now where the types of drugs people are
using are lethal if they're inhaled by anybody, they're lethal if some
one comes in contact with them - that's very important for our
teenagers to know."

Foote said that is the message he would like to get out to the
teenagers and children around the Burin Peninsula.

Foote explained that fentanyl is prescribed as a pain medication,
commonly in the form of a slow release patch, however, he said it is
also produced illegally, "That's the biggest part of what we're seeing
is the illegal form and it's the one that we really need to be fearful
of," he said.

The officer said the illegally produced drug can be pressed into
pills, designed to mimic other legal medications, or it can be found
in a powder form.

Foote explained that locally, it has been confirmed that pills marked
with a CDN on one side and the number 10 on the other are being sold
locally.

"They were misrepresented as Oxy 10's," Foot said. "There is no pill
made (that are) Oxy 10's.

"The person selling the drug actually had a snapshot of a Google page
on their phone when they were selling it to try and convince the
person buying it."

Foote also said that unconfirmed information they have received leads
them to believe fentanyl can also be found in some of the cocaine
being sold on the peninsula.

"When they make pills, they are unable to determine how much fentanyl
is going in each one of these tablets," said Foote. "There could be a
very, very small amount of fentanyl in the actual pill when it's
pressed . . . there could be none."

Foote said this could be dangerous because the user doesn't get the
high they are looking for and may take another tablet.

"The second one could be a lethal dose," he warned.

It only takes a small amount of fentanyl to be considered a fatal dose
- - an amount the size of two grains of salt.

"Calgary police have seized pills that have had enough fentanyl to
kill someone three times over," said Foote. "That's just in one tablet."

He added it may also be mixed with other forms of commonly abused
drugs such as cocaine, oxycotin, and even marijuana.

Foote said the message he would like to see youth and young adults
around the peninsula take with them is, "What you can't see can kill
you.

"If you don't know what it is say away from it, don't touch it. It
used to be if you go to the bar don't leave your drink, take it with
you. Now it's pretty much don't touch any of it."

Foote explained that when a person takes fentanyl they experience the
high, but the drug also has an effect on the respiratory system, "It
puts your respiratory system into depression, it's very difficult to
breath."

He added that the effect it has on the users ability to breath
outlasts the high from the drug. The user may take another tablet (or
other form), but your respiratory system hasn't recuperated yet from
the depression that it's put under.

He added that the next dose they doubles the effect it is having on
the respiratory system, "The reason they overdose is their respiratory
system completely shuts down-because they didn't give it an
opportunity to bounce back."

Foote said it is important to get the message out that fentanyl is on
the peninsula.

"We can stick our head in the sand like the ostrich and live life as
if it's not or we can educate each other, we can prepare for it," he
said.

"The conversation I had with my teenage daughter is it could be on the
(person's) hand that you're shaking, it could be in the pocket that
you're standing next to, it's very, very simple for two grains of salt
to be passed from one human being to the next - extremely easy to do."

Foote said that it is important that people take the time to talk
about the drug and steps that can be taken to stay safe.

"Education is primary. If you have children you've got to talk to
them. If you can't talk to them find someone that can talk to them,"
said Foote. "They're never too far gone to have that conversation. I f
your child is using drugs and you know it, have the conversation with
them. This is not a time you can be shy - you got to have that
difficult conversation."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt