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Nottawasaga OPP kicks off opioid public awareness campaign

July 10, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is kicking off a campaign on opioids to raise awareness and educate the public about what they are, how they’re used, and their associated risks.

Opioid overdoses claim the lives of thousands of Canadians of all ages, from all backgrounds and walks of life.

The OPP is working to help increase community safety and well-being across the province through its public awareness campaign on opioids.

In partnership with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, the campaign aims to provide local resources to community members in hopes of increasing awareness of the use and misuse of opioids.

The campaign will primarily take place on Twitter and Facebook. You can follow along to educate yourself and help raise awareness, increase education, and inevitably reduce stigma.

Opioids are a family of drugs used to treat and relieve acute and chronic pain and are commonly known as prescription painkillers.

While opioids are effective at treating pain, they are also highly addictive. This may lead individuals to become dependent and require increased doses. Anyone can become addicted to opioids,

Opioids include morphine, codeine, Oxycontin, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Meperidine, Methadone, Fentanyl, and Heroin.

Some people abuse opioids to get high. Powerful synthetic opioids, such as Fentanyl and Carfentanil, are of particular concern when taken illicitly due to their high potency.

Someone who starts taking opioids legally following a surgery or invasive procedure, for example, can become dependent and unable to afford the prescription version, leading them to purchase opioids illegally from the black market. 

Illicit drugs not sold as opioids can be laced with synthetic opioid powders such as Fentanyl without the user’s awareness. It is tasteless and cannot be seen or smelled.

A very small amount of Fentanyl can lead to an overdose.

Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing.

Signs of an overdose include blue lips, fingernails or toenails, and slow or no breathing.

Other signs include a faint or no pulse, pale and clammy skin, a person being unresponsive to calling their name, and snoring or gurgling noises while appearing to be asleep.

Risk factors that could lead to an overdose include using a greater amount or a stronger drug than is usually used, mixing drugs with alcohol or other drugs, and using drugs after a period of time of not using them.

Other factors include using drugs alone, as there is no one to help if an overdose occurs, and having an inconsistent drug supply.

You can follow the campaign and learn valuable information by visiting Twitter@OPP_CR and Facebook@OPPCentralRegion.

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