Father helps search for easier way to detect deadly fentanyl

An Ottawa man whose son died from a drug overdose in 2013 is now helping Health Canada run a competition to develop a new andimproved kit totest for the presence of fentanyl in street drugs.

Steve Cody's 17-year-old son Nick diedafter ingesting an MDMA pill, commonly known asecstasy, which was later discovered to have containedfentanyl.

• Saying no for Nick

Speaking to Ottawa Morning host Robyn Bresnahan Tuesday, Cody said his son would likely still be alive if he'dhad access to a quick, simple way totesthis drugs.

"I really believeNick was smart enough and would have used something to test it," Cody said.

Ideally, the test could also also be used to analyze cocaine, heroin and even marijuana.

"If they can test, if they can see there's fentanyl, then they can make a choice," Cody said.

$1M prize

The Drug Checking Technology Challenge is being run by Health Canada as part of the department's harm reduction program, and is open to any individual or organization.

According to Health Canada's literature promoting the contest, the presence of fentanyl in illegal drugs has been on the rise in Canadasince 2016, with 72 per centof apparently accidental opioid-related deaths from January to September 2017linked to the powerful drug.

If we can help one person, the impact is massive.- Steve Cody

According to Health Canada, users are unable tosee, smell or taste fentanyl. Existing detection methods vary in their level of reliability, and in some cases require special training.

At many supervised injections sites in Canada, tiny strips are available to detect fentanyl, but users must bring their drugs in for testing.

"Although there are several different types of products and equipment currently being used, none appear ideal for people who use drugs and those who support them," according to the competition's website.

Aschair of the competition's selection committee, Cody said he's hoping the contest will yield a test that can beeasily and cheaply administered anywhere, by anyone.

"The contest's not full of red tape,"Cody said. "I think the minister took a really good approach. It's open to anybody in the world, and they don't rely define what the criteria is."

Entrants may submit a new technologyor improve upon an existing method, with the grand prize winner collecting$1 million.

'Helping feels really good'

Following the death of theirson in 2013, Steve and Natalie Cody launched SayNo for Nick, an advocacy group that uses education and support resources to help preventopioid and fentanyl use by youth.

Steve Cody saidthe family wantedto focus on building bridgesrather thanwalls.

For example, theyelected to not press charges against the person who sold Nick the fentanyl-laced pills, since they believed that person likely wasn't aware of the opioid's presence, or the risk it posed.

For Steve Cody, being part of the development of a new or improved harm reduction tool is one of the best ways he can honour his late son.

"If we can help one person, the impact is massive. So thinking about helpinga lot feels really good."

Health Canada will screena short list of projects by March, thenproceed to anincubation period. Thegrand prize winnerwill be announced Jan. 31, 2020.