Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services owner Tyrel Burton has fired back at B.C.鈥檚 chief coroner, for what he feels is unwarranted and knee-jerk criticism of the funeral chain鈥檚 Fentanyl Prevention Program.
In a press release titled 鈥楢lternatives Funeral & Cremation Services corrects inaccurate conjectures about its Fentanyl Prevention Program,鈥� Burton said that a number of 鈥渦ninformed critics鈥� have remarked on the program.
鈥淯nfortunately, there have been several statements made about the program by individuals in prominent positions that range from inaccurate to untrue,鈥� Burton said.
Burton told Black Press, 鈥渢o be clear: our Fentanyl Prevention Program is intended for youth who are not existing drug users. It is a prevention program.鈥�
The Aldergrove-based funeral chain has been under fire by B.C.鈥檚 chief coroner Lisa Lapointe about what she describes as 鈥渟care tactics鈥� (that) are not effective when it comes to combating the overdose crisis, following the launch of a 鈥渧ery visual鈥� fentanyl prevention program by Alternatives.
On Nov. 30, Alternatives kicked off the campaign, with Burton described as using 鈥減owerful, perhaps even controversial, visual aids鈥� to talk about the dangers of fentanyl.
The campaign includes a poster of grieving family members surrounding a coffin. Underneath the photo, a banner reads:鈥淲ill fentanyl be the reason for your next family get-together?鈥�
In a written statement on the B.C. government鈥檚 website, Lapointe said that while public education and awareness is important, 鈥渢he BC Coroners Service does not endorse, and will not be participating in, fear-based initiatives.鈥�
鈥淓vidence suggests that the reasons for drug use are complex and multifaceted, and programs focused on scaring people from using drugs, are not effective in saving lives,鈥� she said.
鈥淎dditionally, they tend to increase the stigma surrounding drug use and actually discourage people from seeking help 鈥� an obsolete approach that has led to the loss of countless lives.鈥�
Burton said the presentation on fentanyl prevention has not yet been seen by anyone, aside from the Alternatives personnel who have helped to create it and that it will be presented for the first time in January of 2018.
鈥淚t is puzzling to us that B.C. chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, has seen fit to pass judgment on the program before it has been put into action, particularly since the BC Coroner鈥檚 Service had been fully briefed on the nature of our presentation six months ago and had agreed to support it,鈥� Burton said in the release. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very disappointing to now see that commitment withdrawn.鈥�
Company founder, Lawrence Little, reacted to the guesswork put forward by some as to what the Alternatives program is actually about: 鈥淲ith only the headline of a poster and a photo as 鈥榚vidence鈥�, we have been accused of using scare tactics. However, we feel that a strong dose of reality is the only way to capture a young person鈥檚 attention and make an impression that has at least a chance of helping them to resist that first invitation to try drugs. We freely admit that there are some strong visual elements 鈥� props, if you will 鈥� that are used as scene-setters for the presentation. There will be a hearse onsite; there will be police tape strung around the 鈥榮cene鈥�; and a casket will be in view in the hearse. To those who say these elements are upsetting and will scare those who see them, we would point out that the average youth sees hundreds of similar sights every week either on TV, in movies, or in video games.鈥�
As well, Burton noted that the Alternatives program is categorically not intended for those who are already addicted to drug use. He maintains it is a prevention program, designed for youth 12 to 20 years of age or beyond, who are not addicted and who haven鈥檛 yet experimented with drugs.
Alternatives also points out that its Fentanyl Prevention Program strongly relies on parents attending with their children and 鈥渆ncourages moms and dads to see and hear the presentation with their kids, and hopefully use the message as a means of starting or continuing their own conversation at home about the dangers of drug use, particularly fentanyl.鈥�
鈥淢s. Lapointe has stated that 鈥榩rograms based on scaring people from using drugs are not effective in saving lives,鈥欌�� Burton said.
鈥淲hat we find truly scary is her blanket condemnation of a program that is only just starting, and forming an opinion based on a photo taken out of context from the top portion of a poster. Indeed, Ms. Lapointe has not even seen the presentation.鈥�
Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services underscores the need for drug use prevention by pointing out that B.C. is on pace to see more than 1,500 drug-caused deaths this year and as such, 鈥渉as felt a strong sense of duty to try and stem the tide through the education of our youth.鈥�
Little said if Alternatives鈥� program turns out to be a waste of time, 鈥渨ell, at least we tried, and we will accept the criticism of those who might say 鈥榳e told you so.鈥欌��
鈥淏ut if our presentation saves the life of even one child, we will consider it a huge success,鈥� Little said.
