Warning issued about dangerous red-orange fentanyl found in Saskatoon

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health issued a warning on Friday about a particularly dangerous batch of fentanyl discovered in Saskatoon.

The ministry said in a news release on June 13 that a red-orange powder being sold as fentanyl recently tested at safe consumption site Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon contained between 10 and 25 per cent cfentanyl, and also tested positive for benzodiazepines and xylazine.

No picture was provided.

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Benzodiazepines are sedatives that relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and reduce seizures. They include prescription drugs like Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and Klonopin.

Xylazine, a non-opioid sedative, is not intended for human use and is known by the street name Tranq.

It is increasingly being found in illegal drugs. It can slow down the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower, and lower blood pressure in people, is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The ministry statement said that while naloxone (Narcan) will temporarily address the effects of the fentanyl and is recommended, it will not reverse sedation related to xylazine or benzodiazepines.

The ministry of Health also issued an overdose alert for Regina this week after the city saw four suspected overdose deaths in a week.

According to the ministry, many of the 54 suspected overdoses police reported in the Queen City between June 5 and Thursday required multiple doses of naloxone to revive the patients.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is suspected to be behind the rash of overdoses.

The Newo-Yotina Friendship Centre, which runs Regina’s only safe consumption site and has been closed since a neighbouring fire in March, said its only drug spectrometer was damaged by the smoke and had to be sent away to get fixed.

Emile Gariepy, harm reduction manager and primary care paramedic at the centre, said Regina is dealing with a “toxic” batch of fentanyl but no description of the drugs was available.

“I haven’t been able to test any of the drugs with the safe injection site being closed,” Gariepy said. “We can’t really help out as much in the community.”

Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses.

The Saskatchewan government provides free Naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response.

A list of places where the free kits are available can be found here. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction you can call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. This toll-free, 24-hour hotline aims to prevent deadly overdoses by connecting people who are alone and using drugs with peer volunteers who can call for help if needed.

— with files from Nicole Garn, 980 CJME

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