One of the countries who are currently experiencing a spike in the number of fentanyl-related cases is Canada. For over the last 6 years, the country has seen more than 665 deaths that had something to do with the fentanyl drug overdose.
Over 75 people lost their lives due to the misuse of this drug in Vancouver alone. The Canadian Pharmacist Association director of pharmaceutical innovation Mr. Philip Emberley has stated that the growing number of fentanyl-related cases was alarming and can now be considered as a national disaster.
Last August, the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) released a bulletin that is the first national report on death regarding the deadly opioid. According to the report, the fentanyl-detected cases in Vancouver have increased almost seven times as it used to. While in Alberta, it increased almost 20 times from the previous record of six cases in the year 2011 up to the 120 incidents that have been tallied in 2014. The Lead Research Matthew Young stated that the growing rate of this case can be blamed in the fact that prescription goods are becoming more unavailable in the market place, thus providing some organized dealers a chance to fill the space with a much more dangerous substance such as fentanyl.
One of the solutions they did in hopes of raising awareness about this problem is the campaign called Know Your Source. The program's main objective is to educate a lot of people about the dangers of fentanyl once it enters the body.
The Delta Police Department meanwhile reminds the public of the early symptoms of fentanyl overdose. These signs can include sleepiness, slow heartbeat, having trouble in breathing and difficulty in talking or walking. Any individual who's displaying these symptoms must be immediately brought to the hospital for strict observations.
