(BRIGHTON, ON) On September 6, 2014 at about 11:17 pm Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended to a Brighton residence to assist a parent with their daughter who was acting strange after ingesting an unknown drug.
The 16 year old female had left the residence for a short period of time and returned just after 11:00 pm and was acting strange and behaving out of character for her. Her father contacted the OPP after she told him she had obtained an unknown drug from a male friend and had placed it under her tongue. She would not cooperate with either Police or EMS who had responded when they tried to determine what it was that she had taken. The girl was taken to hospital for treatment and observation.
Northumberland OPP would like to remind people that the use of non-prescribed drugs can have serious health implications if they are not used for their intended purpose. Serious injury or death can occur. Youth out at parties may not question what is being provided to them and may just accept at face value that “it will make you feel goodâ€. They will not be aware of or consider the adverse reactions consuming the unknown prescription drugs may have on them, especially if they are mixing those same drugs with alcohol.
The OPP participate each spring in National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day supported by the Federal Government (through Public Safety Canada and Health Canada), the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Partnership for a Drug Free Canada, the Canadian Pharmacies Association and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). Residents are given opportunity to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals so they cannot harm others, especially young people at pre-determined locations. They can also dispose of unused prescriptions at any pharmacy in their area.
For more information on prevention of non-prescribed prescription drug use please go to Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca , National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day at www.CACP.ca or www.opp.ca