City Police issue Community Safety Alert involving highly potent opioids
The North Bay Police Service says two highly potent synthetic opioids may be present in the local illicit drug supply.
That’s prompted them to issue a high priority Community Safety Alert.
City police say Carfentanil and Fluorofentanyl are extremely dangerous and pose a significant risk to users, first responders, health care providers, and the broader community.
“Carfentanil and Fluorofentanyl are not typical street drugs,” says Acting Deputy Chief Jeff Warner. “In humans, exposure can be deadly within minutes, even without ingestion. Anyone using drugs or working around them absolutely need to take every possible precaution. We urge all community members to stay informed, remain cautious, and look out for one another.”
Police say Carfentanil, which is only used legally to tranquilize large animals like elephants, is estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.
Officials add Fluorofentanyl is a chemically altered variant of fentanyl, and can be up to twice as potent.
Signs of Opioid poisoning or overdose may include:
- Difficulty walking, talking, or staying awake
- Blue or grey lips and nails
- Very small (pinpoint) pupils
- Cold and clammy skin
- Dizziness or confusion
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Inability to wake up
- Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
If you suspect an overdose:
- Call 911 immediately
- Administer naloxone if available
- Stay with the person until help arrives
Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
