By Dave Branco

Fatal amount

Street Dealers’ Inability to Control Fentanyl Doses Leads to Fatalities

Jul 5, 2024 | 1:17 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Fentanyl is a powerful opioid. Just a few grains the size of sand can be fatal, as was the case recently when a youth lost their life due to an overdose.

After a local teenager tragically died from an overdose last month, Prince George RCMP wants to remind the public that in BC, adults are allowed to possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit substances for personal use. However, it’s important to note that this allowance does not apply to youth.

“ There’s no exemption under the Control Drugs and Substances Act youth possessing or carrying, even for their own use.

CPL. Jennifer Cooper

Community

Exploration Place prepares to welcome Santa for their first Merry Morning at the Museum event

5h ago

Fight against cancer

Community rallies around two-year-old diagnosed with cancer

17h ago

Planned outages

Planned power outages to affect Prince George residents

18h ago

Prince George RCMP

RCMP confirmed that the youth died from a Fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is causing a high number of overdoses and overdose deaths.

Drug dealers typically mix fentanyl with other drugs on the street. It’s this unsupervised combination where the drug becomes deadly.

“ Pure fentanyl. But fentanyl isn’t generally found in a pure form. What is used for is to cut other drugs. So normally, you bring in heroin from overseas, and you’ll add baking soda or other materials.”

Dr. Todd Whitecombe

Professor, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

In non-medical situations, individuals may experience a rapid onset of euphoria. However, even the tiniest doses of fentanyl can be fatal.

According to Dr. Whitecombe, street-level drug dealers who manufacture drugs may be unaware of or unable to control the amount of fentanyl in each dose, as it is odourless and tasteless.

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

TikTok: @DaveBrancoVJ