A new form of fentanyl recently found in Halifax is making its way around the municipality, according to a man who uses drugs.
“There’s lots of fentanyl around the city right now, that’s for sure,” Jeff Dauphinee told The Chronicle Herald. “It’s scary.”
On Tuesday, Halifax Regional Police warned the public of fentanyl, described as bright green in colour with the consistency of sidewalk chalk, seized in an investigation last week.
Police said it was the first seizure of this form of the potent drug in Halifax and it is believed to come in multiple colours.
Dauphinee said he’s seen the form of fentanyl in different colours, such as yellow, green and pink, and sometimes it is unknowingly laced with other drugs, such as crack.
Police are warning the public after seizing fentanyl that is bright green and has the consistency of sidewalk chalk. Police remind people to seek immediate medical assistance if someone is experiencing an opioid overdose. https://t.co/tcbrXUG5gq pic.twitter.com/R1eFfKjAFT
— Halifax_Police (@HfxRegPolice) June 23, 2020
“I smoke myself and the problem with that is you don’t really know what’s in it until you’ve already smoked it,” he said.
“People were saying when you start to burn your puff on your pipe, it’d start to turn a little pink, and that’s when you’d know there was some pink (fentanyl) in it.”
Dauphinee said more people have been requesting fentanyl, especially in Halifax, so it’s “starting to pop up in a lot of pockets in a lot of places in all different colours.”
“It’s just kind of sneaking its way into the normal drugs in the area,” he said.
“It’s really hard sometimes to determine if there’s fentanyl in your drugs until you’ve already used them, right? And you find out the hard way.”
Last week, CTV Atlantic and CBC Nova Scotia reported a 15-year-old girl of Dartmouth took MDMA (ecstasy) and had a seizure. She died at Dartmouth General Hospital shortly after arriving there. Her family suspects she died of an accidental drug overdose.
A lethal dose of fentanyl for a typical adult can be as little as two milligrams, which is equal to two grains of salt.
'One overdose is one overdose too many'
Cindy MacIsaac, executive director at Halifax methadone clinic Direction 180, said those that must use should have another person and a naloxone kit, a temporary antidote for opioid overdoses, present.
MacIsaac and Diane Bailey, director of Mainline Needle Exchange, have long been advocating for clean consumption sites and other supports.
“One overdose is one overdose too many,” Bailey said.
If you or someone else is exhibiting signs of an opioid overdose, immediately call 911.
Common signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Severe sleepiness or the person cannot be woken up
- Breathing is slow or absent
- Snoring or gurgling noises
- Cold, clammy skin
- Lips and fingers are blue or grey
- Pupils are tiny
Free Naloxone kits are available throughout the province for anyone at risk of overdose or friends and family of someone at risk of overdose.
