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Fentanyl session informs public

Last Updated Feb 24, 2017 at 12:10 pm MDT

Fentanyl pills are shown in an undated police handout photo. Politicians and public health officials say increasing access to overdose-fighting medication is key to tackling the fentanyl-fuelled opioid crisis that is moving across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)

On February 22, 2017, the Wood Buffalo RCMP held a Fentanyl information session at Holy Trinity High School.

Over 100 residents attended the session that provided critical information about the dangers of Fentanyl and the increase in the use of the drug in our community, across Canada, and the world.

In Alberta alone, Fentanyl has killed over 700 people since 2014 including several overdoses and fatalities in the Wood Buffalo area.

Constable Jason Wells, of the Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response Team, spoke on just how dangerous the use of Fentanyl can be and how the use of it has significantly increased in our province.

Fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than Morphine, requires as little as just two micrograms to suffer an overdose.

Although Fentanyl is one of the most sought off sedatives used by doctors prior to surgery; the drug when prepared outside of a hospital can be cross contaminated which leads to overdoses.

Margaret Butts from Alberta Health Services Addictions and Mental Health presented a plethora of options to help any resident who uses opioids illegally.

Counseling and Treatment services are one of the options available and are free of charge and confidential.

The first four Thursdays of each month, Alberta Health Services holds an Adult Information Series from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m.

Some symptoms of an overdose from opioid use can include slow or no breathing, blue lips and nails, choking or throwing up, cold and clammy skin, snoring sounds and seizures. If one of the above symptoms occur, you should immediately call 911.

If you or anyone you know use Fentanyl, Naloxone Kits are available and free of charge at pharmacies in our community.

Naloxone (also known as Narcan) can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

To receiveĀ a Naloxone Kit, you can visit Shoppers Drug Mart on Franklin Avenue, Signal Drive or Wolverine Drive. They are also available at Safeway on Franklin, Save On Foods on Riverstone Ridge, Loblaws and David Hill Pharmacy.

“Fentanyl is not going anywhere, but with help from every individual, we can reduce the need for the drug, said Jason Wells of CLEAR.