Fentanyl abuse has P.E.I. police on alert

Charlottetown police are keeping an eye out for the powerful prescription narcotic fentanyl, after its use resulted in numerous fatal overdoses in other provinces this summer.

Fentanyl is a prescription painkiller, often worn as a patch.

A new study says fentanyl abuse is responsible for one death every three days in Canada.

Fentanyl abuse is happening on P.E.I. too, and there have been two deaths linked to its use in the past four years, says Deputy Police Chief Gary McGuigan.

He says the medication can be dangerous when it gets into the hands of addicts.

"These fentanyl patches are made to dispense pain medication for people in chronic pain over a period of time," said McGuigan.

"The problem with people that are using them is that they extract the medication and use it all at once so they're getting a potent, if not lethal, dose of painkiller which could have, and has had for some people, tragic consequences."

The drug is more powerful than morphine or heroin.

McGuigan says drug dealers are adding fentanyl to other narcotics sold on the street, including fake oxycontin pills. Often, drug users don't know what they're taking.

Police say they investigated a fentanyl theft a couple of years ago when someone stole a patch off a patient in a long-term care home.

Officials encourage anyone with leftover medication to dispose of it.

A prescription dropoff box is available at Charlottetown police headquarters.

A couple of months ago several boxes were deposited in the police bin, says McGuigan.

"If it is an opiate medication and they don't want it to fall into the hands of those who are most vulnerable, those with addictions, drop it off here and we will dispose of it."