A number of community partners, including Huron County OPP and the health unit, held a drug awareness seminar at F.E. Madill in Wingham Monday night.
The seminar was aimed at educating the public about drugs, the dangers, and the signs of drug use.
Huron County OPP Constable David Greer says informing people is the main point.
“It’s about common drugs that are in Huron County and surrounding areas, and information about the safety for parents, for social workers, or even first responders going into homes, these are the things they might find,” he says.
Greer notes the seminar was implemented after Project Pine Creek, where 11 search warrants led to 33 drug-related arrests in Huron, Perth and Lambton counties.
He also says a big focus is on fentanyl, which is a huge problem in the drug world currently.
“We’re actually seeing in our drug culture, that when someone overdoses on fentanyl, the dealer that sold that overdose, their business increases," says Greer. "That’s because the drug users want to get as close to that overdose, without actually overdosing.”
Greer says there’s so much uncertainty in buying drugs now, because people think they know the substance - but it’s being cut with other more potent drugs, like fentanyl or meth.
He also commented on some of the local drug issues, like the rise in meth use.
“Meth is a big problem because you can’t function on meth. If somebody is a meth user, it takes away their entire lifestyle, whereas if someone is a cocaine user, they could probably still hold down a job until it gets much worse into their addiction," says Greer. "We are seeing a rise in cocaine use, as well.”
Greer says marijuana is also a common issue, but that is common almost everywhere.
Another drug education seminar is scheduled for May 17 in Exeter.