Northern Health (NH) has put out a drug advisory for a round white pill being sold as “Oxycocet.”
Medical Health Officer Dr Rakel Kling said it was issued after receiving a sample back from an RCMP drug seizure that happened in Fort St John.
“The RCMP got some samples tested and it came back positive for a sample called Nitazene. It’s something new that we haven’t seen, our drugs contaminated with Nitazene, so we (Northern Health) thought it was quite concerning. We wanted to make sure substance users are aware that this might be seen in the drug supply in the North now.”
Dr Kling noted that Nitazene is a synthetic opiod that is equal or more toxic then fentanyl and is not detected on fentanyl strips so NH doesn’t actually know far and wide the substance might be in the North although it has been found in the province.
“It could lead to significant overdose symptoms and actually require quite a lot more naloxone to reverse an overdose. It’s good to be aware that Nitazene might more easily cause overdoses.”
Dr Kling said it’s very important to be carrying naloxone and maybe some even extra doses at all times.
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