Thursday afternoon, the Saskatchewan RCMP received confirmation that carfentanil (controlled 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.
At 9 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. This incident was not fatal and we will not be providing an update on his condition. RCMP continue to investigate this incident and there is no further information available at this time.
This is the first time the presence of carfentanil has been confirmed in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.
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.
“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 Supt. Rob Cameron, Officer in Charge, RCMP Federal Policing, "The only medications that are safe to take are those prescribed by licensed medical professionals.”
Remember:
· The conditions under which illegal drugs are processed are not controlled, do not meet any safety standards and may be contaminated with other substances and drugs.
· Carfentanil is often used/mixed with other drugs to make them more potent. It is unknown how much or what chemicals or other substances may be added to dilute/contaminate drug purity.
· The only safe drugs are prescribed by licensed medical professionals.
· If you think someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately. More than one dose of naloxone may be required, always call for help.
Additional information about opioids is available through Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-abuse/prescription-drug-abuse/opioids.html
