Educators are working diligently to warn youth about the inherent dangers of fentanyl as the death toll from B.C.’s overdose crisis shows little sign of receding.
According to the B.C. Coroners Service, 433 people died in B.C. of illicit-drug overdose between Jan. 1 and July 31. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid increasingly being cut into street drugs and counterfeit opioids, was detected in 62 per cent of cases in the first half of 2016.
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The vast majority of those who died — 235 people — were between the ages 20 and 39, but 11 were between 10 and 19.
To protect children from fentanyl — which police and health authorities have detected in heroin, cocaine, crack, amphetamines and counterfeit prescription pills — educators are bolstering their outreach in schools.
Rob Rai, director of school and community connections for Surrey School District 36, said his district is working closely with the City of Surrey and Fraser Health to obtain updates on fentanyl’s presence in the community.
Since last year, the district has distributed such information to counsellors, administrators and youth-care workers, who then work with students to answer their questions and clarify misconceptions about fentanyl and other toxic adulterants.
“One of the things the kids have shared with us is that they don’t see pill drugs as a hard drug,” Rai said. “We’re working hard to educate the kids that just because it’s not a pipe or not a needle, doesn’t mean that you’re any less at risk.”
Rai said the district is strategically reaching out to Grade 8s, who are most at risk of experimenting and Grade 10s, who meet regularly for Planning 10 classes.
The district is also working to arrange “community cafes” that will engage parents and provide them information about youth drug use, risk factors and detection.
“It’s tragic,” Rai said. “Do you think that any of these parents who lost their children knew they were doing these kinds of drugs? They would have stepped in right away. So we’re trying to help them understand, ‘Hey, what are the signs? What does it look like? What is fentanyl?’ ”
Art Steinmann, manager of substance-use health promotion for the Vancouver school board, said discussions about fentanyl will be wrapped into the board’s drug-education programming, which is focused toward students in grades 8-12.
“We’re not singling out fentanyl, at this point, for any particular focus,” he said. “It will be touched on, but we need to start where the youth are at, and most of the youth we’re dealing with — the issues they’re confronted with are more around cannabis and alcohol.”
The 2013 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey, administered by the non-profit McCreary Centre Society, found that compared to 2008, fewer students reported using substances such as non-doctor-approved prescription pills, cocaine and amphetamines, while heroin use remained stable at one per cent.
But overall, 17 per cent of male and female youth had tried at least one substance other than alcohol or cannabis.
Steinmann said youth-engagement workers will continue to visit schools to lead classroom work and run small group discussions and after-school community-service learning programs that will address youth drug issues. He said the board recognizes that some youth are engaged in drug use and so it will provide support to encourage them to reduce or cease this.
Educators will focus on the need to tackle the root issues that lead to drug use, such as boredom, curiosity, peer pressure, loss or trauma, and will continue to focus on “strength-based” education that encourages wise and healthy decisions, he said.
In June, police chiefs in Vancouver and Surrey sent letters to parents warning them about the dangers of fentanyl.
In a joint letter penned by the Surrey school district and chief superintendent Bill Fordy , parents were warned that both children who regularly use drugs and those who experiment are susceptible to serious harm or death from fentanyl and similar substances.
“Despite our best efforts as parents, our children can easily be at-risk of drug use,” they said.
“They are young and influenced by people and factors outside of our control. In addition, a child’s susceptibility to drug use is not determined by their family’s socio-economic status or where they live. It is important to not assume your child hasn’t already or isn’t thinking about experimenting with drugs — it’s not always as obvious as we think.”
Tips from VPD Chief Const.Adam Palmer on how parents and caregivers can keep children safe:
- Visit knowyoursource.ca and learn about fentanyl and other opioids (painkillers).
- Talk to your child. Don’t assume they are using drugs, but don’t assume they’re not. Stay calm and focus on these facts:
- They may not know they are taking fentanyl – they cannot see it, smell it, or taste it, but it can kill them;
- Fentanyl is cut into other drugs, like cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and oxycodone;
- Fentanyl may be in pill, powder or liquid form;
- Trying any of these drugs even just one time could kill them if they’re cut with fentanyl.
- Advise them to call 9-1-1 if they see these signs of overdose in any of their friends:
- Severe sleepiness;
- Slow heartbeat;
- Trouble breathing;
- Slow, shallow breathing or snoring;
- Cold, clammy skin;
- Trouble walking or talking. An ambulance will be dispatched, and no one will be in any trouble. Police rarely come, as we don’t want to discourage anyone from calling 9-1-1 for help because they are afraid of other consequences.
- Friendships are a very important part of our kids’ lives. Encourage them to look out for their friends, to share information about the dangers of fentanyl, and to support their friends making good decisions.