Drug counterfeiters using fentanyl getting away with murder While it seems out of context for a career progressive, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has gone law-and-order rogue in his quest to stem the plague of fentanyl overdoses and deaths in the nation's capital. He wants manslaughter charges laid against drug dealers if the illicit narcotics they peddle end up causing death. And he is not wrong in wanting this. The time is now to stop whistling past the graveyard, and ignoring the fact there is a fentanyl crisis that is not going away anytime soon - aided by the fact the lethal drug, 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin, is being laced into counterfeit pain killers disguised as known prescription narcotics of specific strengths. [continues 509 words]
AIDS committee hopes to use results for study A project launched this week by the AIDS Committee of Ottawa is offering urine test strips that reveal to people who have used drugs whether they've been unwittingly exposed to the powerful opioid fentanyl. "We're hoping to give community members a free and simple way to find out whether or not they've been exposed to fentanyl through recent substance use and we're also hoping, if we can, to collect a bit of data on what those results might be," ACO harm reduction coordinator Caleb Chepesiuk said. [continues 822 words]
Officer used the nasal spray form of the drug inside Rogers Arena A Vancouver police officer working at a Vancouver Canucks hockey game has become the first member of the department to use the overdose-reversing drug naloxone on an overdose victim. Staff Sgt. Bill Spearn of the VPD's organized crime section said the officer was working with a partner Dec. 28 at a Canucks game at Rogers Arena and noticed a commotion outside one of the gates involving a man who collapsed on the ground. [continues 755 words]
A "huge spike" in local opioid-related deaths - an overdose death rate that's double the Ontario average - is one of the disturbing findings of a health unit report that is spurring officials to quickly collaborate on a plan of action. "The gravity of the situation, it's prompting us to move faster," the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit's associate medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, said Thursday, expressing hope that a coalition of local police, paramedics, hospitals and health unit officials will devise "strong recommendations and actions to help our community," in the next few months. [continues 503 words]
It is evident by recent cuts to our public sector that the provincial government's commitment to austerity measures will undoubtedly continue through the upcoming spring budget. However, as the rise of violent crime and introduction of dangerous new drugs to our province risks tearing apart our families and communities, it remains clear that we cannot afford further cuts to justice and public safety initiatives within our province. Appealing to relevant statistics about drug use and crime in our province brings only heartwrenching conclusions. Drug-related deaths within Newfoundland and Labrador increased 42 per cent from 2014 to 2015. Fentanyl, an extremely dangerous street drug, has been the subject of a recent public warning by the RCMP after the fatal opioid was spotted on the Burin Peninsula. Furthermore, this warning comes merely a month after a St. John's drug bust seized over 250 fentanyl pills that were manufactured to appear like OxyContin, an often abused prescription painkiller. [continues 296 words]
It's an elephant tranquilizer, and it can kill you. The Nelson Police Department recently busted a man for possession, and after sending away his faux oxycodone tablets to Health Canada they were informed the batch contained carfentanil. "I was extremely upset when I saw that. I've been reading about it North America-wide,hearing about it in major cities, but I didn't expect to see it in Nelson this fast," detective David Laing told the Star. The deadly synthetic opioid is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, the primary drug responsible for nearly 1,000 B.C. overdose deaths in 2016. Chief Paul Burkart has named addressing this issue as the department's number-one priority, holding numerous community meetings on the subject. [continues 1200 words]
In trouble for selling weed Nova Coates recognized the armed man in the black balaclava as soon as he burst into her Bank Street store. The clerk had served him as one of her "patients" at the Weeds Glass & Gifts marijuana dispensary. "I said to the cop, 'I recognize you.'" The undercover Ottawa police officer and other squad members raided Weeds that afternoon in January, hauling away bags of dried weed, cannabis oils, cookies, candies and concentrates. Coates and the other clerk behind the counter, Cassandra Morrison, were arrested. The handcuffs were pink, Coates recalls. "I was like, 'Wow, did you know there were two women working here?'"(Coates correctly speculated that the pink cuffs were part of a police campaign to support a breast cancer charity.) [continues 704 words]
One month later, they're back at work Nova Coates recognized the armed man in the black balaclava as soon as he burst into her Bank Street store. The clerk had served him as one of her "patients" at the Weeds Glass & Gifts marijuana dispensary. "I said to the cop, 'I recognize you.' " The undercover Ottawa police officer and other squad members raided Weeds that afternoon in January, hauling away bags of dried weed, cannabis oils, cookies, candies and concentrates. Coates and the other clerk behind the counter, Cassandra Morrison, were arrested. The handcuffs were pink, Coates recalls. "I was like, 'Wow, did you know there were two women working here?' " (Coates correctly speculated that the pink cuffs were part of a police campaign to support a breast cancer charity.) [continues 855 words]
Higher-dosage, easier-to-use Naxolone kits, which cane help prevent opioid overdoses, are now available through Oxford County public health Higher-dosage and easier-to-use Naloxone kits will soon be available free of charge to anyone in Oxford County to help prevent opioid overdose deaths. "We're just finishing up our policies to be able to dispense it, so we're really close," said Lisa Gillespie, a nurse with Oxford County public health. "We should be able to dispense it within the next few weeks." [continues 964 words]
Union slams allegations in court document as 'absolutely false' The TTC's workforce has a substance abuse problem that could put passengers and the public at serious risk if it's not addressed, according to a court document filed by the transit agency. But a representative of the union that represents TTC workers calls the allegations of substance abuse "absolutely false." In a factum the TTC submitted before a hearing this week on its proposed random drug and alcohol testing policy, the agency said that between October 2010 and December 2016 there were 291 incidents in which employees' behaviour raised safety concerns. In almost half of those, the TTC either suspected or confirmed drug or alcohol use. [continues 606 words]
Kotvals want action on counterfeit drugs; Kanata man details daughter's struggles The family of Chloe Kotval called on police and public officials on Sunday to immediately address the availability of "high-grade counterfeit pharmaceuticals" in the community. Releasing a statement hours before her funeral, the grieving family remembered Kotval as a "well-loved" and "warm" person who was cherished by her friends before losing her life far too soon. "Our beloved daughter, Chloe, was a sweet girl adored by family and friends for her warmth, good nature and energy. This week, we have become even more aware of how well-loved she was through the outpouring of support by the community, the schools and services," Kotval's family said in a statement released to the Citizen. [continues 872 words]
Editor: I presented the following proposal to the government of B.C. last December. This proposal was, if acted upon, intended to expand our arsenal to fight the losing battle against deaths caused by the drugs fentanyl and carfentanil. Each of these compounds are, by far, the most potent chemicals in the class of drugs known as opiates. Fentanyl is far more powerful than codeine, heroin, oxycontin, morphine, etc. Carfentanil is at least 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. Opiates work by stimulating "opiate receptors" residing on nerve cells in the brain. The part of the brain most richly endowed by opiate receptors is the part of the brain that controls breathing. When certain cells in the respiratory centre are stimulated, the brain becomes insensitive to the presence of carbon dioxide. If there is a build-up of carbon dioxide, the brain dies and the heart stops. The heart stops and the patient dies. [continues 166 words]
WATERLOO REGION - Sally has been taking drugs since her mother introduced her to them when she was 14. Today, the 26-year-old Kitchener woman is on methadone to curb her cravings. But Sally, not her real name, still does illicit drugs like crystal meth. Her drug of choice is crack but last summer while looking for a hit, she bought a "point" of fentanyl and injected it (a point is one-tenth of a gram). She doesn't want to do it again but fears it could be laced in the drugs she usually buys. [continues 1298 words]
WATERLOO REGION - Five years ago, local paramedics responded to one opioid overdose a week. Now the rate is almost two overdoses every day. "Where does it end?" says Robert Crossan, deputy chief of the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services. The drug at the core of the crisis is fentanyl - a painkiller 80 times stronger than morphine. It's a pain medication prescribed and taken by patients through patches. But 'bootleg' fentanyl is coming in from China, and trace amounts - as small as grains of salt - are being mixed with heroin and cocaine sold on the streets. [continues 1086 words]
The arrests on Thursday of a dozen people in Ottawa believed to be involved in the trafficking of illicit opioids, coupled with the spike in recent years of drug overdose deaths in this city, underscores the need for greater public awareness, says Ottawa Public Health's manager of clinical programs. "We follow what's happening across Canada - in Vancouver and Alberta - where they're seeing large increases in people dying from opioid overdoses," Andrew Hendriks said. In Ottawa in 2015, there were 48 deaths from unintentional drug overdoses, a jump of 32 per cent over the previous year (the rest of Ontario saw just a six-per-cent increase in the same period). Of the 48 Ottawa deaths, 29 were the result of opioid use, of which 14 were attributable to fentanyl. [continues 609 words]
When it comes to fighting the illegal drug trade, fentanyl knows no borders. Overdose deaths attributed to the illicit opioid are skyrocketing each year in cities, towns and on reserves in Alberta. The Blood Tribe Police have not been immune to the effects on the community it serves to protect. They welcome the Alberta Government's announcement last week that police officers are among those who will be trained to administer lifesaving Naloxone, which temporarily reverses the effect of fentanyl. [continues 589 words]
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. [continues 796 words]
Edmonton is battling a new drug overdose crisis that simply doesn't fit any standard assumptions, council members were told Monday. Only 20 per cent of the overdose deaths from fentanyl last year were in core neighbourhoods. Young men in the suburbs are actually at a much higher risk, said city officials. "This has gone beyond being an inner-city issue," said Mayor Don Iveson, adding those dying most often from illicit fentanyl and prescription opioid painkillers are taking them alone at home where no one is available to help when things go wrong. [continues 510 words]
Last May, Ontario's minister of health, Dr. Eric Hoskins, announced that Ontario would ensure pharmacies dispense Naloxone kits to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose. At last count, seven pharmacies in Peterborough are participating in this attempt to prevent these tragedies from occurring in our communities. People using opioids, whether prescribed or obtained illicitly, or their families and friends, can now get a free rescue drug, Naloxone, to be used in the event of a witnessed overdose. These access points are in addition to the kits that have been available through public health, PARN and Fourcast. [continues 518 words]
The fentanyl crisis in Alberta has been well documented. The harm the drug is doing to Alberta families, schools and communities has become a major public issue in the last two years. It hasn't gone unnoticed by police and political leaders. Alberta's government has added more treatment beds for addicts and victims of overdoses. It has also made sure more emergency overdose treatment kits are available in police and fire stations, on ambulances, at emergency departments, even in provincial jails and schools. [continues 424 words]