Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jun 2014
Source: Tri-Cities Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Glacier Community Media
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Note: Was Coquitlam Now until Jan 2014

A REMINDER OF THE HIGH COST OF DRUG USE

Anyone who's battled a drug addiction, or knows someone who has, 
understands just how hard it can be to beat the disease.

And unfortunately, losing the battle often means ending up in a body bag.

Case in point: just this week, the BC Coroners Service issued a 
warning to drug users in the Fraser Health region, including the 
Tri-Cities, to be careful when using opiates like heroin and oxycodone.

The coroners service believes the extremely dangerous drug fentanyl 
is behind the overdose deaths of 13 people in the region so far this 
year, including two in Coquitlam.

In the first four months of 2014, the drug claimed more than twice as 
many lives as in a 12-month period just two years ago.

The synthetic drug, which can be deadly to touch, can appear to look 
like heroin but is far more dangerous to consume. The worry is people 
are buying other drugs and unknowingly ingesting fentanyl.

In some cases, the dead were recreational users, but the majority 
were described as having a history of significant drug use.

Many people will ignore the warning because it doesn't have any 
impact on their daily lives, while others may even be pleased a few 
less addicts are walking the Earth and using up resources.

Maybe even more unfortunate, the 13 people have basically become a 
statistic in a news story.

They no doubt had families who cared for them and who are now in mourning.

But we don't see this as a right-versus-wrong issue, nor a call for 
more enforcement or even social programs.

Instead, the warning is just a stark reminder of where the path of 
drug addiction can end.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom