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What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful opiate analgesic similar to but definitely more potent than morphine. In fact, fentanyl is about 75% more potent than morphine and dispersed in micrograms not even milligrams. Fentanyl is usually given to patients to treat severe pain or to manage the pain after surgery. Fentanyl is also typically given to treat people who are dealing with chronic pain who may or have a high tolerance to other opiates. Fentanyl is a schedule II prescription drug and comes in many different forms and methods of administration.
In a prescribed dose, fentanyl is known as Actiq, Druagesic and Sublimaze. On the street Fentanyl abuse takes on names that include Apache, China girl, China white, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT and Tango.
What’s going on in Ottawa?
After a few break-ins at local businesses and two teen overdoses (one fatal) a town hall meeting was filled with dozens of concerned parents about the drug Fentanyl. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful and dangerous opiate that is usually prescribed to people who’ve been through major surgery, have high pain tolerance and/or are allergic to other types of pain medications. This drug is not meant to be over the counter and definitely not meant to be out on the streets. Many local Manotick teens are taking the drug right under their parent’s noses. The drug usually comes as a patch so it’s easy for teens to hide in conspicuous places.
Tyler Campbell, a Manotick resident, was 17 years old when he died of a Fentanyl overdose in August.
His grandfather, Dennis Westwell, attended the meeting.
“I am one of the grandparents of the 17-year-old who died August the fourth. It’s too late for him, but I believe he was the cause of this meeting being held,” Westwell said. “So that’s a benefit.
“It’s not about good kids and bad kids. My grandson was a good kid; well loved, well respected. He was very busy, too. I kind of find it hard to believe that he had time to get involved [in the drug].”
Dr. Melanie Willows of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group said the longer someone is addicted, the worse the withdrawal usually is.
“You can’t sleep, you have fever chills, you feel like you were hit by a truck yesterday, your anxiety is through roof, and it goes on and on and on,” she said.
Addiction counsellors recommend not only getting addicts into treatment programs, but also getting families of addicts into counselling.
If you or a loved one is in need of drug, alcohol or Fentanyl addiction treatment please give us a call at 800-951-6135.