'A very dangerous time': opioid meetings continue to draw parents in big numbers

Once again, hundreds of parents filled a meeting space in Kanata to talk about how to tackle opioid drug use.

Ottawa Public Health officials gave a half-hour information session on fentanyl andcounterfeit prescription drugs Wednesday night. The event, one of four scheduled this month, was hosted by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board at Earl of March Secondary School.

About 200 people, most of them parents of teens or pre-teens, watched thepresentation on the signs and dangers of opioid drug use.

• Kanata parents with drug-addicted children go to meeting hoping for answers

• 'Keep our kids from dying': Ottawa dad pens letter warning of overdoses

• Once again, parents pack opioid meeting in Kanata in search for answers

"We're living in a very dangerous time right now," said Dr.PetraDuschner, a psychologist and manager of mental health and critical services forthe OCDSB.

She called the information sessiona collaborative effort between Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa police and the Rideauwood Addictions and Family Services centre.

"[It will]provide factual, accurateinformationandprovide parents with an opportunity to learn more about some of the resources in the community," Duschner said.

Rideauwoodand the public health agencyhad information booths set up in the school's foyer, where parents could learn more about support andcounsellingservices.

Police perspective drawsattention

But it wastwo Ottawa police officers who drew the most interest from attendees. After the presentationabout a dozen parents asked school resource officerConst. Cindy Cybulskiquestions about the source and danger of illegal opioids.

Afterward, Cybulski said organizers noted the interest in the police perspective and would make time available for police to speak from the stage at the second information sessionscheduled for 7 p.m.Thursday at Glebe Collegiate Institute.

Earlier this month, police and public health officials issued apublic warning about fake prescription pills potentially laced with the deadlyopioidfentanyl.

In Ottawa, andKanata especially,there has been a surge of concernsince the recent deaths of twoneighbourhood teens, both from apparent overdoses.

"We're really concerned with the counterfeit prescriptiondrugs that are out there on the market, and we're really concerned with the toxicity and dangerousness of them," said Duschner.

'I find it very scary'

Shannon Barry attended the information session to find out more about Ottawa's opioid problem before her son becomes a teenager.

"I find it very scary. He's going to be 11 soon and kids are very receptive to friends coming up and saying, 'Hey, take this, take that,' and so I want to make sure my son is prepared," Barry said.

Her friend Jen Dowd has three daughters, the eldest12 years old.

Dowd said her family has been shaken by the deaths in Kanata.

"With social media, it's been the community of students, they are finding out the information, or misinformation, a lot faster than we can present them with facts and information. Sothere's rumours going around."

Marino Francispillai, a programmanager offamily and school health atOttawa Public Health, said one of the aims of the information sessions is to inform parents about the importance of their support in the lives of teens.

"We're talking about mental health as well," he said. "We know that those who use drugs have described the high as being like a warm hug, so it's really about being present in the child's life.

"We want to make sure parents feel supported in what they're doing with their kids."

The third session is set to run March 22 at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School in Barrhaven. The fourth event is scheduled for March 23 at Gloucester High School.