Substance three times more potent than fentanyl detected in Lambton

A Naloxone anti-overdose kit is held in downtown Vancouver, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Lambton Public Health (LPH) has issued an advisory due to a reported increase in opioid toxicity.

According to public health officials, there is an increased risk of overdose linked to a newly detected substance, and caution is strongly urged if you use unregulated drugs.

Sarnia police indicated that a recent seizure was confirmed by Health Canada to contain protodesnitazene. Protodesnitazene is part of the nitazene class of opioids and it is three time more potent than fentanyl.

Police say that the detected protodesnitazene was recovered upon the arrest of two people for trafficking related offenses.

“This substance presents a serious danger to the community, as users may unknowingly consume drugs that are more potent than they realize,” said Sarnia Police Deputy Chief Ron Hansen.

Public health officials also say that additional doses of Naloxone may be needed, as this newly detected substance does not respond in the same way as is typical.

To prevent opioid related poisonings it’s recommended that you don’t mix drugs with alcohol, don’t use alone, know the signs of an overdose, and carry a Naloxone kit in case one occurs.

Signs of opioid overdose include difficulty walking, talking or staying awake, blue or grey lips or nails, small pupils, cold clammy skin, dizziness, confusion, extreme drowsiness, choking, gurgling or snoring sounds, slow and or weak breathing, and inability to wake up even if shaken, or yelled at.

Lambton Public Health and local pharmacies provide Naloxone kits free of charge.

In the event of a suspected overdose, call 911 and remain at the scene to help paramedics, administer Naloxone if you have it, and know that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects you.