Opioid and Naloxone Alerts

Key findings

• 110 samples were checked: 66% were substances¹ and 34% were used paraphernalia²
• 71% of the samples checked were expected³ to be fentanyl, cocaine, or methamphetamine
• 8% of the expected³ fentanyl samples checked were known to be associated with an overdose: all samples contained fentanyl and a benzodiazepine-related drug
• 56% of the expected³ fentanyl samples checked contained at least one benzodiazepine-related drug
• Etodesnitazene – an opioid with similar potency to fentanyl – presented for the first time in expected³ fentanyl samples checked

Expected fentanyl substances

• 75% (15) of expected³ fentanyl substances checked⁴ contained fentanyl and other drugs, including:
• 80% (12) contained caffeine
• 53% (8) contained despropionyl fentanyl (4-ANPP) (!)
• 53% (8) contained etizolam (benzodiazepine-related) (!)
• 13% (2) contained etodesnitazene (!)
• 7% (1) contained acetyl fentanyl (!)
• o   7% (1) contained furanyl UF-17 (opioid-related) (!)

Unexpected noteworthy drugs found in other expected substances

• 4% (2) of the remaining substances checked,⁴ meaning substances that weren’t expected³ to be fentanyl, contained an unexpected noteworthy drug, including:
• 14% (2) of expected cocaine substances contained phenacetin (!)

Information from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health suggests that “Red Fentanyl” could be involved in a number of recent overdoses. It’s important to assume that all substances circulating can be of higher toxicity.