Vancouver Coastal Health is raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl by placing warning decals inside nightclub bathrooms, a common location for recreational drug use.
The decals warn users that their party drugs may be laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been responsible for at least 655 deaths in Canada since 2009.
In a press release, Vancouver Coastal Health says the decals, which are being placed on toilet paper dispensers, portray real drugs arranged in foreboding symbols such as a skull, a cross, and a flat-lining heart rate are stark reminders that the content of street drugs is unregulated.
Fentanyl was linked to the July deaths of a young North Vancouver couple. Hardy and Amelia Leighton, both in their early 30s, were found dead in their North Vancouver home on July 20.
The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed the pair had ingested toxic levels of fentanyl in combination with other drugs.
In August, fentanyl was linked to the overdose death of Burnaby teen Jack Bodie.
Vancouver Coastal Health is hoping the decals will serve as a reminder for partiers to be careful about what they ingest.
I talked to Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer with the Vancouver Coastal Health, about the dangers of fentanyl.
• To learn more about harm reduction techniques please visit fentanylkills.com.
Filed under: Now, STAFF Tagged: Amelia Leighton, British Columbia Coroners Service, Burnaby, Canada, fentanyl, Jack Bodie, north vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health
