Educators, police step up fentanyl warnings
Police services and school boards in Essex County have joined forces to cut off the rising fentanyl crisis before it gains a foothold in local schools.
Four police forces and four school boards launched the public education campaign Wednesday.
“It is proactive, pre-emptive,” said Sgt. Steve Betteridge with Windsor police. “We are not saying that there is a drug problem at our schools. We are saying that information is knowledge and it is vital that we have our school board community partners on board to get this information out to students, parents and caregivers.”
Windsor police, Essex County OPP, LaSalle police and Amherstburg police are involved in the campaign along with the English and French public and Catholic school boards.
Pamphlets were created in French and English that give information about signs of drug use as well as details about what people can do if they fear someone is on drugs, including where to go for help.
The pamphlets will be available at schools and police stations. They will also be sent out in emails and on the websites and social media accounts of the police and school boards.
Police also hope parents will have conversations with children, friends and family about the consequences of drug abuse.
Staff. Sgt. Jeff Mailloux, with the Windsor police drugs and guns unit, said that public awareness is a key weapon in the fight against fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.
“Fentanyl is an extremely potent and highly addictive drug,” said Mailloux.
“It’s estimated to be 100 times more potent than morphine. We believe that parents and caregivers have an important influence in their children’s lives and you play a critical role in keeping your children safe.”
Joseph Ibrahim, superintendent of education at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, said the campaign will focus on Grade 7 and 8 students as well as secondary schools.
“Although we haven’t experienced any fentanyl-related occurrences in our schools, we know this is a very dangerous substance and it has the potential to become a real problem in our community,” said Ibrahim.
There may not have been any incidents in local schools yet, but police said fentanyl is in the community and fatal overdoses are on the rise.
Mailloux said micrograms of fentanyl can be fatal, and people might not realize that they’re taking the drug because it has no smell or taste and is often mixed with something else.
“The illegal use of the drug is very dangerous because its effects are unpredictable,” said Mailloux.
“In the drug trade, fentanyl has been mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine and sometimes oxycodone. It can be absorbed through the skin or accidental inhalation in the powder form if it’s not handled carefully.”
We are not saying that there is a drug problem at our schools. We are saying that information is knowledge.