It’s become a national problem and now local health officials are warning about its risks as well.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health says it has become aware of the presence of Fentanyl in area communities and amounts of the opioid are also turning up in other illicit drugs like Percocets.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza tells Quinte News, Fentanyl is about 100 times more powerful than morphine and is extremely dangerous, especially to people who aren’t used to using opioid medications.
Dr. Oglaza added, they’re especially worried about teens and youth in the area who may be trying other drugs and not understanding they could contain Fentanyl.
He says that warning is based on some other cases in the province, especially in Ottawa where a young girl died recently.
Dr. Oglaza says if you are an opioid user, you should never use alone and should also stop by the health unit or pharmacy to pick up a Naloxone kit, which can reverse the drug’s effects.
You can click here to visit the Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health website, which has more information on Fentanyl, Naloxone and other drug prevention programs and strategies.