News Release - Winnipeg Police Service

Wednesday, September 9, 2015   The Emergence Of Fentanyl In Manitoba - Its' Dangers And Effects On Our Communities On August 15th, the Winnipeg Police Service reported that one person had died as a result of a drug overdose, suspected to have involved fentanyl. Drugs seized at the time of the fatality were analyzed by Health Canada and it has been confirmed that these samples contained a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine. Today, Chief Devon Clunis, along with RCMP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau and Dr. Joss Reimer,  Medical Officer of Health for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority will be speaking on the recent influx of the drug Fentanyl into Manitoba and its' dangers and effects on our communities. Whether a person knowingly consumes Fentanyl, or, as is being more frequently seen, purchases another drug, that unknown to the user contains Fentanyl, the consequences are becoming all too frequently fatal.   Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau of the RCMP states "Fentanyl presents a real and present danger to our communities. Across the country, in large cities and small towns alike, the RCMP has observed a heightened presence of this illicit and very dangerous drug.  The RCMP is working with its partners to take all possible measures to ensure Manitobans are safe." "As a community we must continue to work together to improve the health, safety and well-being of all individuals, families and neighborhoods and create a society free from the range of harms associated with substance abuse." says Chief Devon Clunis of the Winnipeg Police Service. According to Dr. Reimer, frontline health care workers are starting to see fentanyl use appear where it was rarely seen in the past.  This is of great concern because it can be as much as 100 times more toxic than other opioids such as Morphine.  The number of overdose deaths due to Fentanyl appears to be increasing in 2015 compared to previous years. If you witness someone experiencing an overdose, call 9-1-1 and give them rescue breaths if they are not breathing.  For more information on prescription drug abuse please visit the Government of Canada website at: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/healthy-living-vie-saine/substance-abuse-toxicomanie/prescription-abuse-abus-ordonnance/index-eng.php Or the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse at: http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-CCENDU-Fentanyl-Deaths-Canada-Bulletin-2015-en.pdf For further information contact either: Constable Jason Michalyshen, Public Information Officer Constable Eric Hofley, Public Information Officer Kelly Dehn, Manager of Public Affairs Phone: (204) 986-3061 | Fax: (204) 986-3267 | Email: WPS-PIO@Winnipeg.ca Share this mailing with your social network by clicking on the appropriate link:       Related Winnipeg Police Service Report a Crime Online Crime Stoppers CrimeStat Unsubscribe If you do not want to receive these emails anymore, unsubscribe. Please do not reply to this email. This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address and replies are not monitored. Mailing address: City of Winnipeg, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 1B9 Privacy Statement The City of Winnipeg values your privacy. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties. You are receiving this email as a result of your signing up for the Winnipeg Police Service Email News list offered on the City of Winnipeg website. You may unsubscribe or change your subscription options at any time.