Tina Espey was a smart, loving and active teenager. However, her addiction to fentanyl ended her life at just 19-years-old.
Fentanyl is an opioid-based pain killer, roughly 100 times stronger than morphine.
The drug is a patch that some people smoke, eat, wear, or even inject.
Between 2012 and 2014, more than 380 people across Ontario died from fentanyl overdose. The local health unit is reporting 40 deaths in Simcoe County during that time period.
Tina's mother, Sherri Dolk has spent the spent past three years talking about the danger of the drug. Dolk has joined the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police in a
"it is discouraging to keep hearing about the deaths," said Dolk. "It's heartbreaking. to keep hearing that people are dying still."
Dolk is sharing her daughters story as part of a new fentanyl awareness campaign to combat fentanyl deaths launched by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and Humber College students.
The campaign highlights the dangers of the drug via a website created by Humber College Students.
Paramedics are also joining the campaign.
"It normally knocks out your breathing, so you stop breathing entirely," said paramedic Natalie Harris.
Paramedics are now all trained to administer Naloxone, a drug that can help during an overdose.
"It gets rid of the opioid drug. that is effecting the patients level of consciousness," said Harris.
Tina's death is among four Canadian youths who are the face of the campaign. Her mother hopes the information is shared through the campaign will help save more lives.
