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School Boards And Health Unit Collaborate For Fentanyl Information Session

A virtual event is looking to educate residents on the issue of fentanyl use in the community.

The Upper Canada District School Board, along with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit and the Brockville Police Services are hosting the event in light of a spike in fentanyl overdoses. 

Don Lewis is Acting Superintendent and former Principal of Safe Schools for the UCDSB, and he says the event is focused on keeping people informed about the dangers of the drug.

“Some of the messaging is acknowledging that the old-style ‘just say no’, really isn’t enough when we’re approaching issues related to awareness around drugs and drug use, and that kind of thing. So, some of the messaging from this will be surrounding harm reduction.” 

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The conversation will include presentations from our community partners, and opportunities for the public to ask questions.

The panel will feature representatives from the health unit, as well as Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Mental Health and Addictions, and Brockville Police officers. 

Lewis says it’s all about telling people like it is, so they’re aware of the dangers.

“We want to give people some of the cold hard facts about what we’re seeing with fentanyl, and other drugs in the community that are moving in,” Lewis said. “Maybe for a lack of a better term, calling it a ‘dirty drug supply’ in terms of what’s being cut into different drugs folks are using, but may not be aware of.”

Lewis adds that ultimately, residents will come away with more knowledge about drugs in the community and information on what to do in the event of an overdose. 

The event runs on Monday, April 26, from 6-7 p.m. and will be aired through a Microsoft Teams Live session.

To register, head here

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