'I'm scared': Winnipeg families of overdose victims rally for crackdown on opioids

A small but dedicated group of people who've hadloved ones killed due to opioids gathered at the Manitoba legislatureon Saturday to rally for action against the deadly drugs.

Close to 10 people met at 3 p.m., armed with posters bearing the faces of family members who died from overdoses on fentanyl and carfentanil and signs decrying the dangers of the powerful opioids.

Among them was Sherry Isaac, a mother whose daughter fought a drugaddiction for years. She said she wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids, as well asthe fact she and others are fighting them.

She said as a mother of someone who has struggled with addiction, it's hard to follow news of the rising use of fentanyl and carfentanil.

"I'm scared," she said.

"Last Wednesday, when there was the report of the three people [found dead] in the North End, or the Maples, It took me to my knees, as a mother," she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

"That could have been my child. That could have been your child. It could be anybody's child."

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'That's a call I'll never forget'

Cynthia Genailledaughter Brittney died after overdosing on carfentanillast month. She said she thinks her daughter took the drug by accident after it waslaced into another drug she was taking.

Genaille said her daughter started taking drugs when she was going through a difficult time and then "fell deeper and deeper."

"She came to my house a couple of days before she passed away and she said she was scared of carfentanil."

Two days later, her daughter was dead.

"I got that call at four minutes after four on Oct. 6, that my baby was gone," Genaille said. "That's a call I'll never forget."

Isaac said she wants to see the province crack down on dealers, as well asincreased federal and provincial funding for rehabilitation clinic and improved education in schools.

"Parents can educate all they can, but sometimes, even as a mother, we're not exactly putting out there the correct information," she said."Information has to be across this nation, say from 10 [years old], straight up."

• Winnipeg woman loses 3 family members in a year to suspected fentanyl overdoses
• Mom seeks charges against drug dealer who 'let my baby die'