The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is warning of the presence of fentanyl in the community, a warning which comes amid word that there have been nine cocaine-related deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador over the past while.
The Constabulary believes that fentanyl is present in illicit drugs, specifically in cocaine, and harm reduction advocates are concerned that it may have been a factor in some of those deaths.
The numbers are concerning for many, including Emily Wadden, a program manager with the Safe Works Access Program in St. John’s. Police are urging people who use illicit drugs such as cocaine to have a naloxone kit on hand.
Wadden says it’s a message they spread all the time. They use a lot of word of mouth and community collaboration to get the message out.
Wadden doesn’t see things improving with the consumption of illegal drugs anytime soon.
She doesn’t expect to see any improvement in the numbers of people who are harmed by drug use until they are regulated so that the contents are known and spelled out.