An overdose at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary has proven to be the first confirmed case of a dangerous drug entering the province.
RCMP said in a release Friday afternoon a 22-year-old man was found unresponsive on July 15 after overdosing on carfentanil.
The opioid drug is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and can be lethal in small amounts.
The inmate was immediately given a shot of naloxone, an opioid antidote which can counteract the effects of an overdose, and transported to hospital.
RCMP said the man lived, but wouldn’t provide an update on his condition.
Police are warning carfentanil overdoses may be too strong for a single dose of naloxone to be effective.
They add the drugs could be mixed with other illegal substances, and urged the public to only consume drugs prescribed by a medical professional.
RCMP said it was the first confirmed case of the drug entering Saskatchewan in their jurisdictions.