Drug ‘two-times more powerful than fentanyl’ found in Amherst, N.S., area

A deadly drug said to be two times more powerful than fentanyl is now in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Health is warning the public about a strong synthetic opioid found for the first time in the province.

The health authority describes N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene as “two times more powerful than fentanyl.”

It can appear as a brownish rock with a powdery, grainy texture.

A sample taken from the Amherst area was found mixed with fentanyl, cocaine, furanyl UF-17, xylazine, which is a tranquilizer, and caffeine, according to the RCMP.

It’s recommended people use naloxone to reverse opioid toxicity and call 911 for help with tranquilizer and cocaine toxicity.

The drug can’t be detected using fentanyl test strips, which Nova Scotia Health says makes it even more dangerous.

“What we need to be afraid of is when we are putting something into our body and we don’t know what it is or what affect it will have on us,” says Rebecca Penn, a harm reduction consultant with Nova Scotia Health.

The opioid wasn’t found during a drug investigation, but rather one for a stolen dirt bike.

“When we took the individual into custody, we did a search back at the office, and we found numerous drugs, multiple drugs on this individual,” says Cpl. Troy Gill with the Cumberland RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit.

The initial arrest took place in December, but it took months to determine just what the drugs were.

“We always have a concern for what’s in the drug supply. Let’s face it, you’re not buying something that’s regulated. You’re not buying something that’s been inspected,” says Amherst Police Department Chief Dwayne Pike.

Now that the drug has crossed into the province there are concerns it will spread.

“We’re closest to the border, so when things start to filter into Nova Scotia, lots of times it comes through here first, and it’s been that way for other drugs,” Pike says.

It’s something police will be keeping a close eye on.

“We are being vigilant, and we do take this very, very seriously. Anytime that any new drug comes into a community it’s very alarming,” says Gil.

The RCMP says the person who was caught with the drug has been sentenced to four years in prison.

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