LaSalle drug forum alerts community on dangers of fentanyl

Therate ofopioiddrug use among teenagers has become a "dangerous epidemic," warnedLaSalle police Const. Al Gibson at a packed public forum Tuesday night.

Gibson, who has spent more than two decades on the force, says he's never seen officers arresting teenagers under the Mental Health Act until just a few years ago. Now the occurrence is all too common.

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"Here they are now using the likes of prescription pills, fentanyl we're getting into deep problems with meth and it just seems to be a growing epidemic within the younger generation," he said.

Dr.JoslynWarwarukspoke during the forum, which was organized by police and health officials and held at theVollmer Culture and Recreation Complex.

She told CBC News about the importance of having discussions and raising awareness about the dangers of prescription drugs.

"I don't think we can put our heads in the sand," she said. "We have to communicate with our friends, our family, our physicians, teachers, coaches. If everybody's talking, then we'll have better communication and better prevention."