Social media used to warn about fentanyl

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/11/2016 (3525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government launched a social media campaign Friday to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl.

The powerful synthetic opioid is responsible for hundreds of deaths across the country, including several in Winnipeg in recent weeks.

At an event at Shaftesbury High School, the province displayed copies of ads that will appear on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The government has initially budgeted $16,000 to $20,000 for the ad campaign.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen told students he has met a number of parents who have lost their son or daughter to fentanyl. He told students he did not want to meet their parents under similar circumstances.

Goertzen said the awareness campaign is being funded through the federal proceeds from crime fund.

Also attending the event were Justice Minister Heather Stefanson, police chief Danny Smyth and fire and paramedic service Chief John Lane.

Smyth said later that within a month all frontline city police officers will carry the opioid antidote naloxone.

City paramedics have carried naloxone for some time.

The first phase of the new social media awareness campaign is being launched today on the government Twitter account.