Changes in local drug supply

Northwestern Health Unit - Special to The Bulletin

Northwestern Health Unit reminds everyone: if you use a drug that did not come from a pharmacy or legal dispensary, it may not be what you think. It could have other substances like animal tranquilizers or fentanyl mixed in. 
Recently, people have been having unusual reactions and effects from drugs. Testing done by drug checking sites and people using drugs has shown there are often other substances mixed in that make use of these drugs more dangerous. This is happening in Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and communities in between. 
Information available:

• Substance sold as cocaine causing unusual symptoms of feeling unwell and some having sleepiness or unconsciousness, sometimes naloxone is effective, sometimes not
  
• Crystal meth/ methamphetamine testing positive for fentanyl
  
• Opioids testing positive for medetomidine (vet tranquilizer)
  
• Substance sold as fentanyl testing positive for cocaine and butonitazene (opioid with similar effects to fentanyl)
  
• Increase in drug poisonings (overdose) including deaths
  

Harm reduction tips:

• Test your drugs before using; NWHU has free kits that test for xylazine, fentanyl, benzodiazepine, medetomidine, and nitazine.
  
• Have naloxone and know how to use it. Get your kit from your local NWHU office or pharmacy
  
• Never use alone. Take turns with a friend, use the Lifeguard Digital Health App, or call/text National Overdose Response Service – NORS (1-888-688-6677)
  
• Start low and go slow; use a small amount and see how it affects you
  
• If something isn’t right, call 911!
  
• New equipment for every person, every time.   
  

Please report any adverse drug related events (change in experience, positive test results, drug poisoning/overdose, etc.) to NWHU through the online reporting system (https://www.nwhu.on.ca/our-services/harm-reduction/reporting-adverse-drug-events/). Also sign up (https://www.nwhu.on.ca/our-services/harm-reduction/drug-alerts/)to receive drug alerts from NWHU.