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Fentanyl Outbreak
Following the August 4th, 2012 death of a Manotick teen, recent media attention has shed light on a deadly drug that has made its way into the community. The rise in Fentanyl use has sparked concern among area residents and Ottawa Police alike, as the drug has been known to be highly addictive and has several negative consequences, one of which is death. It has affected the families of addicted teens as well as those who have been indirectly affected through the increase in criminal activity caused by the need to fund the addiction. While area residents fear that there is an epidemic on the rise, officials have taken steps to deal with the issue at hand.

The Drug
The drug itself, Fentanyl, is an opiate painkiller that has been compared to morphine. According to Constable Dave Stewart, an Ottawa Police Service Worker, the drug is 100 percent addictive and more dangerous and potent than any other prescription or non-prescription drug that the police service has ever had to deal with. The drug has been around for decades, and since the 1990’s has been introduced in a patch form, as a painkiller for cancer patients or those experiencing severe chronic pain. While the drug can take various forms, addicts tend to smoke, inject, or ingest the drug from its patch form.

Paul Brooks, the pharmacist at Paul’s Pharmasave, worries that the rise in Fentanyl abuse may not only be causing harm to those using the drug illegally, but may also make it harder for those who actually require the drug for medical purposes to obtain their prescription, “Fentanyl is a very effective drug and a very useful drug, but when it is used the way kids are using it, it becomes a very deadly drug”, stated Brooks. The improper use of the drug by youth could result in the drug being removed from the market altogether, which would then require patients to seek out a new treatment.

Effects on Families and Rise in Criminal Activity
For those that have been directly affected by the addiction, it has had devastating consequences. Parents of youth gripped by the addiction have watched the drug deteriorate their children’s, as well as their families’, lives. Families, under anonymity, have described their own struggles with trying to get their children clean. Family, marital and financial troubles befell those who took steps to set their children on the right path.

The addictions not only affected the families of the youth, but also the community at large. As Staff Sergeant Kal Ghadban of the Ottawa Police Service stated, “There is a direct correlation between the increase in crime and Fentanyl use”. Desperate for a way to finance their dependence, many resorted to crime. Residential break-ins have risen in recent months, as youth looked for anything that could potentially be sold or pawned off quickly. Police have reported that money, electronics and jewelry seem to be the most targeted items, as they tend to be the most liquid assets available.

Remedies Available to the Addicts, Community Solutions
While police estimate that approximately 30 high school students in the area are addicted, public officials and service workers have taken steps in order to prevent further spread of the narcotic. Constable Paquette, the school resource officer at St. Mark Catholic High School has been giving presentations to students about the dangers of the drug, trying to stop the problem at the source. Constable Paquette also works with local addiction centers to identify teens who may be connected with the drug, offering them treatment options. One such centre, Rideauwood Addiction Centre, also aims to educate school-age about the drug, in addition to providing counseling services to older students.

While it is vitally important to educate the youth about realities of the drug, since it is an issue affecting their peer group, it is equally important to inform the community so that they may have a greater understanding of the issues that affect their surroundings. Public information meetings have been scheduled for November 2012 in local churches where all can attend in order to develop a greater understanding of how to recognize symptoms of drug use and how to remedy them.

Final Thoughts
The recent rise in Fentanyl use among area youth is not something that can be easily dismissed, the effects are real and dangerous: the drug is highly addictive, and its improper use can lead to death. Through education and informative sessions, the goal is to understand the implications of use with the intent of deterring use altogether. The message is clear: stay informed, stay safe, and seek the necessary help as soon as the warning signs become apparent, because in the words of one area father, “you can’t do this alone”.