Carfentanil is believed to have played a part in its first overdose death in Nova Scotia.
The chief medical officer for the province, says the powerful opioid was present in an individual who died from an overdose in the Halifax area in March.
Dr. Robert Strang says they are still investigating to see what other drugs may have played a factor.
“Like in many of the deaths there were a number of substances involved,” says Strang. “Given the high potency of carfentanil, while the exact cause of death hasn’t been determined … it’s highly likely carfentanil at least contributed to death in this case.”
The province did not release the name, age, or sex of the person.
Strang says the case is not unexpected.
“Last June police identified carfentanil in a drug seizure in Nova Scotia, there’s been previous identifications in New Brunswick, and we know that in other parts of Canada, especially western Canada, carfentanil is a part of what I call this ‘toxic street drug scene.’”
Carfentanil is 100 times as powerful as Fentanyl and sometimes used to cut other illicit drugs like heroin.
Fentanyl and Carfentanil have also been known to be mixed with counterfeit prescription opioids.
The drug’s legitimate use is by zookeepers and veterinarians to sedate large mammals.
Coming in contact with even just a couple granules of the drug can cause an overdose.
Strang is reminding first responders and those who use illicit drugs to carry Naloxone kits.
Naloxone kits are available for free in pharmacies across the province and are standard issue for First Responders, who may have to revive someone who has taken the drug or even a colleague who has come in contact with it accidentally.
Naloxone, which can be injected or administered through a nasal spray, can reverse the effects of an overdose but Strang says it’s important to call 911 as an overdose can cause a person to stop breathing.
In a press conference, Strang discussed some possible moves to deal with overdose deaths such as supervised injection sites in urban Cape Breton and in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
But he adds, that’s not a fix for rural populations.
“It doesn’t occur just in the urban locations, we have lots of substance use in rural Nova Scotia where supervised injection sites are not the answer there, we need to be more creative.”
By Brittany Wentzell
@BrittWentzell
