Photo by Whitehorse Star
Doris Bill
Fentanyl deaths prompt chief to organize action
Raising awareness
Raising awareness is the most important thing leaders can do when it comes to the fentanyl crisis, says Doris Bill, the chief of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
That’s why the Kwanlin Dün Health Centre has held multiple information sessions in recent weeks, trying to educate the community on the signs of a fentanyl overdose.
Bill said in an interview today the sessions were well-attended.
The increased focus on fentanyl in the Yukon comes after a number of deaths in Canada this year related to people overdosing on the potent opioid.
Earlier this week, Dr. Brendan Hanley, chief medical officer of health, said the Yukon has seen two confirmed and three suspected deaths related to fentanyl in 2016.
Four of these have occurred in the last seven weeks.
Names, genders and age ranges have not been released.
The drug, often mixed with cocaine and heroin, is fast-acting, and 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.
Hanley said that makes it an effective drug in a medical setting, and a dangerous one on the street, where it’s unregulated.
If people are going to use anyway, both Hanley and Bill urged them to be safe, and not to do drugs alone.
There’s also a push to educate people in the use of naloxone kits.
Naloxone isn’t a guaranteed cure for an overdose, but it can be helpful in reversing the effects of fentanyl.
Right now, three locations (Blood Ties Four Directions, Kwanlin Dün Health Centre, and Taiga Medical Clinic) have naloxone kits available.
When people pick them up, they receive a 15-minute training session on administering the drug to suspected overdoses.
Bill herself has a kit.
She said she and a volunteer will be walking around the community this holiday season, keeping an eye out for people who may be at risk of an overdose.
“It’s not just Kwanlin Dün people who are concerned,” she said.
“I think it’s all Yukoners who are concerned ... I don’t think people should panic, but I think that they should really be informed and be aware and stay safe.
“This is a dangerous drug that we’re dealing with here, and people are losing their lives. We can’t be complacent about this.
“As leaders, we need to do what we can and we need to be out at the forefront of this thing. You may save a life you never know.”
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Comments (6)
Up 6 Down 2
Leading by example on Dec 28, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Good for you Chief Bill for doing what you can right now to prevent further tragedy. May more people in leadership roles care enough for their community to do what they can. No, Naxalone is not a permanent solution, but a temporary solution is much better than permanent death & at this point, it's the only solution we really have. I'm sorry so many posters feel the need to spew negativity, this is a very courageous, positive, community minded approach and you should be applauded. Good work Chief Bill!
Up 12 Down 16
Just Say'in on Dec 25, 2016 at 1:26 am
Hey @Aucoin I did quit. Maybe you should.
Up 28 Down 14
Duane Gastant' Aucoin on Dec 23, 2016 at 12:18 pm
@ Just Sayin, just quitting drinking & doing drugs is way easier said than done. About as difficult as it would be for you to just stop being ignorant!
Up 19 Down 28
Just Say'in on Dec 22, 2016 at 7:08 pm
How about just stop drinking and doing drugs. It works in my family.
Up 10 Down 1
Teddy Tips on Dec 22, 2016 at 5:55 pm
FYI: There's a good interview on the CBC site with a 17 time overdose fentanyl addict Kati Mather who tells it like it is.
Up 19 Down 1
north_of_60 on Dec 22, 2016 at 5:40 pm
The popular "Naloxone solution" is like placing a band-aid on a hemorrhaging chest wound. It doesn't solve the problem of deadly street drugs.
It would be far more effective and cost less to simply give registered addicts free safe drugs. Combine this with a substantial Crime-Stoppers reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people selling deadly street drugs. To actually solve the problem, get criminals out of the drug business. Remove their profits and make them paranoid and they'll go somewhere else.
If addicts didn't have to constantly scrabble for money to feed their expensive addiction, then they would have a better chance at rehab programs and getting their lives back on track.