Just another high, another way to die; the rise of Bromazolam

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Many of Canada’s Interior Health Centres have circulated a drug alert warning of a substance sold within the black market as “down,” something that contains 60-65% fentanyl and 20-25% Bromazolam. This opioid drug is extremely harmful, deadly in fact.

The Minister of Health in British Columbia has warned there is a very high risk of overdose, and a very high risk of fatal overdosing. The warning states that amnesia, sleeplessness, nodding off for long periods of time are just some of the symptoms experienced.

The substance appears as a black paste, or chunks. Bromazolam is a designer benzodiazepine drug that has not been approved for medical use in any country. It appears in samplings by the police, prompting recent warnings of its popularity with the illicit drug-using crowd. As you know, the police find these samples among the drugs present when someone overdoses, is dying, or ill from the use of illicit drugs. This drug is popular throughout rural, out of urban centre regions, spreading throughout the country.

“Just another way to get high, just another way to die.”

Note: Benzodiazepines can cause the user to not respond to naloxone during a drug overdose.

I can sound heartless, but I am not. I have seen many people in Canada and the USA ruin their lives, and many do die. Perhaps the lack of treatment centres and services is the problem, or that mental health has not been taken seriously for decades.  I feel for these people, and most for their loved ones who just don’t know how to help them. Cultural and religious traditions often force some of these people to keep addiction within the shadows, hidden from prying eyes. Shame, and loss of face is often a concern for our neighbour’s, and the treatment of those addicted become a secondary issue.

An addicted person is not of sound mind, often unable to make proper judgements and decisions for themselves and others. I came upon a situation in Cleveland, Ohio where all five members of a family unit were addicted, high and unresponsive to direct contact from caregivers. I had the police come, place them under arrest and take them to the local hospital for emergency detox and treatment, a long-term thing. Human Rights lawyers appeared and suddenly I was called a villain, instead of a life giver. Crazy world we are living in eh?

You want to solve the drug addiction game? Take control! If children are going to harm themselves what do you do? Stop them by taking control. You can listen to the addicted ones, and their family unit, and then do what is right, what is needed to save and preserve life!

You can either agree that drug addiction is an evolutionary pathway for the weak of society, or that life matters, and it needs to be preserved no matter what.

The public system can continue to skirt the problem, by feeding addicts with methadone, shoot up centres, free syringes and drugs all to calm their addiction safely, yet their addict continues, thrives and destroys lives.

No one has the right to kill him or herself while they are not of sound mind and conscience. No one. The present day drug protocols are nothing more than strung out-timed euthanasia.

Give our healthcare and police officers the powers and obligation to clean up the roads, campsites of people with addictions. Place them in areas where clinical professionals can examine, treat, clothe and house these people, even over a long term so long as they rehabilitate.

A saved person, is a thankful person. Hear that politicians and decision makers? Empower social policy that can change lives. Forced addicts to become assets to society and their communities and families.

Sometimes force works, if treatment is there, right behind within the process.