The public is becoming more forthcoming with tips about dangerous, counterfeit drugs, and the people pushing them, given the deadly impact they’re having on society.

That’s according to the RNC’s Constable James Cadigan, following the arrest of a Mount Pearl man last week.

The 19-year-old is facing charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, drug possession and trafficking in connection with the overdose death of a 14-year-old boy back in March.

The autopsy determined that he took what he thought was Xanax and Dilaudid, which turned out to be a deadly concoction of synthetic opioids.

Such tragic deaths are not rare these days, but the charges linking the death to the alleged drug dealer are.

However, Cadigan says charges like those laid last week may become more common due to greater openness about where the lethal mix is coming from.

“With the presence of these synthetic opioids that are life-threatening in illicit drugs, and the impacts they’re having, there is information becoming available about the movement of these substances throughout the community and as a result we’re able to investigate the source and determine if we’re able to proceed with criminal action.”