ThinkNORTH Summit

Prescription Drug Issues and Law Enforcement

Date: Thursday, August 16, 2007 (9:30am-11:30am CT)
(10:30am-12:30pm ET)

Description: Brian Brattengier from the Nishnawbe Aski Police Services of Thunder Bay presented the workshop on Prescription Drug Issues and Law Enforcement. The workshop was based on prescription drugs that were being abused. He talked about all the different kinds of prescription drugs/drugs that were on the street,the value of the drugs on the street and the harmful side effects of prescription drug abuse.
The drugs on the street are Marihuana/Hashish/Hash Oil, Cocaine/Crack Cocaine, Ecstacy, GHB, Prescription Drugs(Valium,Percocet's, T 3s, Morphine, etc.), LSD, Ketamine and Meth.
The workshop was successful at reaching the audience which mainly consisted of elders. There was frontline workers present during the workshop in which they had the chance to ask questions at the end of the workshop. One of the Questions was "How do you help a person who is trying to stop abusing the drug and what are the symtoms?" Brian suggested that they go ask a health professional in their communities and that they will get referred to an outside help. (Treatment Centre)
Some of the symtoms are flu like and 10 times stronger than the aching flu.
In conclusion, the workshop was educational. Hopefully, plan on having more workshops related to the topic. This workshop was an eye opener that brought the abuse on prescription drugs a reality. This is going on in our communities and we are suffering because of the misuse of prescription drugs.

List of Participanting Communities:

Fort Severn
Sandy Lake
Neskantaga
North Caribou Lake
Keewaywin
Webequie
Red Lake
KORI-Thunder Bay
OTN Bridge