Fentanyl-related deaths this year in Central Alberta spiked to 19 as of June 30, according to Alberta Health Services.
Only six deaths related to fentanyl were recorded in Red Deer between 2011 and 2013.
Jennifer Vanderschaeghe, Central Alberta AIDS Network Society executive director, called it an “overdose epidemic.”
“I’m not convinced this is a temporary problem. Fentanyl has been on the radar in Vancouver for over a year. It was two weeks ago on a Sunday night that they had six overdoses deaths in an hour,” Vanderschaeghe said on Thursday.
She said CAANS clients say they aren’t necessarily buying fentanyl, rather it was mixed in their drugs.
“In our community for sure you can buy something called fentanyl. The bulk of people we’re working with are buying things that are not called fentanyl. They’re buying a variety of opiates that are marketed as something other than fentanyl — there happens to be fentanyl in it.”
Fentanyl is about 100 more stronger than morphine, heroin or oxycodone and is often passed off as the new form of OxyContin.
In the first six months of 2015, a total of 145 people in Alberta died from taking drugs in which fentanyl was detected.
Fentanyl is often sold on the street under the nicknames: fake oxy, greenies, green beans, beans, green apples, apples, shady eighties, or eighties.
Prescribed by a doctor and taken in appropriate doses, fentanyl is used for pain management.
Dr. Ifeoma Achebe, medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services Central Zone, said at 19 deaths, fentanyl is a serious problem.
“Fentanyl can be a very dangerous drug. It’s very, very toxic,” Achebe said.
She said Fentanyl started showing up more about two years, but the problem has gotten worse in recent months.
The zone has seen 59 opiate-related emergency room visits during the first five months of 2015. Those visits would involve morphine, heroin, oxycodone or fentanyl.
During the 12 months of 2014, there were 152 opiate-related visits in the zone and a total of 164 in 2013.
Since July 7, CAANS has been part of the Overdose Prevention Program.
It has given out take-home Naloxone kits and trained 27 clients to use them to reverse the symptoms of fentanyl and other opiod poisoning.
The program is a one-year, $300,000 pilot project funded by Alberta Health developed in response to the rise in fentanyl overdoses.
Vanderschaeghe said so far 33 kits have been distributed by CAANS and kits have been used six times to successfully address overdoses.
The medication Naloxone temporarily stops the effects of opiates to keep people breathing until paramedics arrive. It’s possible for a person to lapse into an overdose again once Naloxone wears off so it is important they receive medical attention.
Naloxone is injected intramuscularly and other than being an opiate antagonist, Naloxone has no affect on the body.
She said CAANS clients are thankful Naloxone is available so they can help a friend who is in trouble.
“It’s really scary. You don’t want to be there and not be able to help somebody.”
Staff have also seen a few new faces as a result of the program, she said.
CAANS is working with Red Deer Primary Care Network’s Street Clinic on the program and CAANS is one of seven agencies across Alberta distributing the kits.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com