Fentanyl overdose deaths rising in Sudbury

The Coronor's office says it's finding a powerful and addictive opiatepainkillerin an increasing number of overdose deaths in Sudbury.

The regional supervising coroner, Dr. Michael Wilson, said there's been an increase in the number of cases where Fentanyl isused.

There were eight Fentanyl-related deaths in 2013. None were recorded in 2011.

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"In most cases we find a couple different drugs which, in combination, have a greater effect on a person's level of consciousness," Wilson said.

Fentanyl is typically administered in patch form. It's 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Provincially-subsidized antidote kits would help locally. But right now, Sudbury isn't included in that program, said Camille Lavoix, a nurse with Reseau Access Network who works with IV drug users.

The group has applied to the province to be included in a program that subsidizes the antidote kits.

Lavoix said NARCAN kits should be given to the family and friends of drug users because it can save lives.

"You can literally bring somebody back from the brink of death," she said.

"He might not be happy about it at the time, because sometimes when they wake up they're not happy cause they don't realize they were so close [to death]."

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health said Reseau's application has been received and is going through the standard approval process, but no decision has been made.

Lavoix noted recent overdoses are taking the lives of Sudburians in their 20s or early-30s, who were experimenting.

"These people did not mean to die. They did not mean to kill themselves."

An addict recently told CBC News that using fentanyl is ruining his life. We're not revealing his name, but anaddict in southern Ontario said he's overdosed twice and it's stalled his life.

"You'll never have a proper meaningful life, you'll never be able to move forward in your life. You'll always, always be stuck, basically, where you are."

Last year, Ontario recorded about 120 Fentanyl-related deaths.

Wilson said a recent Patch-for-Patch program in Sudbury could begin to reduce the availability of the drug.