Part Two of Three — Clinical Director Warns Trends Are Shifting Faster Than Ever
Hamilton, Bermuda — One week after TNN News launched its in-depth investigation into the rising presence of fentanyl on the island, the picture of Bermuda’s drug landscape is becoming clearer— and more concerning.
In this second installment of our three-part series, we spoke with Ms. Shirley Place, Clinical Director of Turning Point, to understand how quickly substance use trends have evolved and why fentanyl has become a growing threat within the community.
• From Heroin to Fentanyl: The Game Has Changed
For decades, Bermuda saw predictable patterns: heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy dominated the street drug market. But by 2025, the landscape looks very different.
“We mirror what’s happening in other locations, particularly the U.S. and U.K.,” Ms. Place explained. “We’re seeing synthetic cannabinoids like shatter and, more importantly, synthetic opiates such as fentanyl. Those are the major changes over time.”
She also noted a significant rise in vaping among younger Bermudians, often involving not just tobacco but other illicit substances.
• A Shift in Who Is Using
Turning Point is seeing a widening age range among people seeking treatment.
“Our population is still mostly older—40 years and above,” Ms. Place said. “But more clients in their twenties are coming in, especially with party drugs like MDMA and ecstasy. These are more common in the night life scene and during warmer seasons or holidays.”
• The Fentanyl Fear — and the Fentanyl High
Bermuda’s fentanyl crisis became highly visible in 2023, when a major shipment was intercepted. At first, Ms. Place remembers clients being terrified.
“They had heard about the deaths in the U.S. They were afraid,” she said.
But addiction is powerful—and unpredictable.
“Over time, some individuals went from fear to actually chasing the fentanyl high. They tell us it’s a different type of high—stronger, greater. Not everyone is chasing it, but the shift is real.”
Clinicians are also seeing increased use of Narcan, now carried by BHB ambulance crews to reverse opioid overdoses.
• The Dangerous Unknown: What Users Think They’re Taking Isn’t Always True
One of the most troubling trends is the gap between what clients believe they’ve used and what their drug screens reveal.
“Someone may say, ‘I used heroin,’ but test positive for multiple substances—or none of the ones they thought they used.” Ms. Place recalled a recent case where a client insisted they used heroin, but tested negative for it entirely.
“Clients don’t always know what they’re getting. That’s a risk by itself. Dealers may say one thing, but you’re getting something else.”
• Clinicians on High Alert
Turning Point staff must constantly stay updated. Continuing education is not only a requirement—it’s a survival tool.
“Staff need to know what trends are happening locally, nationally, and internationally,” she said. “We rely on partners like the Department for National Drug Control, which produces annual research, and we connect with other treatment facilities to understand what they’re seeing.”
• Is Fentanyl’s Worst Yet to Come?
Ms. Place didn’t hesitate when asked whether she fears the type of fentanyl devastation seen in parts of the U.S.
“It is definitely a concern. We never wanted it to hit Bermuda. Once it arrived, we had to prepare immediately—because even possession can be dangerous.”
• Addiction Starts Long Before the Drug
Ms. Place emphasized that substance use is rarely the beginning of the problem.
“Many clients started using from ages eight or nine, often because of trauma or family distress,” she noted. “So we train staff in trauma-informed care. We can’t just treat the addiction—we must address what’s underneath.”
• Severe Withdrawal Risks
Withdrawal from modern synthetic opioids can be aggressive and sometimes life-threatening.
“Respiratory distress, cardiac complications—especially when multiple substances or medications are involved,” she said. “We see major risks across the board.”
As Bermuda grapples with the rise of fentanyl, Turning Point continues to serve on the front lines—navigating one of the most complex and dangerous shifts in Bermuda’s drug history.
TNN’s investigation continues in Part Three, where we explore the impact on families, prisons, and the wider community.
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