Nearly 200 people have registered for a fentanyl symposium Friday in Edmonton on Friday to come up with a plan to stop the spread of the dangerous opiate that has been linked to more than 100 deaths this year in Alberta.
The Clean Scene Network for Youth, a drug prevention and education agency founded in 2002, organized the half-day conference in response to the staggering number of fentanyl-related deaths and a notable increase in the number of parents knocking at their door asking for help for their children.
There were 145 deaths linked to fentanyl in Alberta in the first six months of the year, say statistics from the medical examiner’s office.
By midsummer, Clean Scene had 11 new clients, all with fentanyl addictions. The Edmonton organization decided something needed to be done.
“Right now, we’re all in the detection and control phase, so we can’t even focus on preventing more deaths and getting the awareness out there. We’re just like, where is it, what’s happening, how do we find those solutions?” Clean Scene’s fund development director Leslie Cleary said.
Clean Scene has invited addictions specialists, toxicologists, doctors, street-level agencies and law enforcement officials to attend the conference. It is not open to the public.
The event includes an expert panel and group discussions where attendees will come up with recommendations that will eventually be sent to the provincial government.
