Members of the Blood Tribe participated in anti-drug rally in January. Photo from Blood Tribe Chief & Council / Facebook
The Blood Tribe of Alberta opened a conference on Monday to address drug abuse on the reserve. The tribe declared an emergency earlier this year to combat the use of fentanyl, known on the street as Oxy 80. In one six-month period, 20 people died and 60 overdosed from the drug. But the tribe has seen a decline in overdoses since dedicating more law enforcement resources to the problem. Anti-overdose kits also have been distributed on the reserve to prevent more deaths. "We are still experiencing the fallout," Chief Charles Weasel Head told CBC News, referring to the treatment programs that tribal members will need to address addiction. The conference concludes today. Get the Story:
Fentanyl deaths down on Blood reserve; addictive painkiller still a problem (CBC 6/16)
'We’re in it for the long haul': Blood Tribe takes aim at drug abuse (The Calgary Herald 6/16)
Overdose under the microscope — Blood Tribe two-day conference on illegal and prescription drug abuse underway (The Lethbridge Herald 6/16)
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