file photo.
RCMP have confirmed the presence of a deadly street drug connected with mass overdoses in the United States in Saskatchewan.
Mounties says the drug carfentanil (a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) was present in a substance tested by Health Canada after an incident at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert in July 2017.
Officials say at 9:00 a.m. on July 15, 2017, a 22-year-old male inmate was located unresponsive. Naloxone was administered and the male was transported to hospital. RCMP say the incident was not fatal.
Carfentanil is an opioid drug and an amount weighing less than a grain of salt can kill a human. It is 100 times stronger than fentanyl, and because of its potency, a single dose of naloxone, the opioid antidote, may not be enough to help an overdose victim.
RCMP say carfentanil is often used/mixed with other drugs to make them more potent, and they say it is unknown how much, or what chemicals or other substances may be added to dilute/contaminate drug purity.
“There are severe consequences to being exposed to, possessing or using synthetic opioid drugs. All it can take is being in the presence of carfentanil to put yourself at serious risk of injury or death,” said Superintendent, Rob Cameron.
RCMP continue to investigate this incident and say there is no further information available at this time.