The circulation of pink tablets that look like the PEZ candy and contain etizolam are circulating in Montreal, prompting a warning from the city’s public health department. “Users may be unwittingly exposed to the risk of overdose. These tablets look similar to ‘PEZ’ candies, which are popular with children,” reads a warning from Montreal Public Health issued on Friday. Etizolam, which is similar to benzodiazepines like Valium, is a drug not sold in Canada and is commonly found in counterfeit drugs. They are associated with sedation, loss of balance, dizziness, and confusion. The Montreal Public Health Department said similar tablets containing etizolam — and cocaine in one case — circulated in several parts of Quebec in 2020 and were linked to overdoses, which can lead to unconsciousness, little or no response to noise or pain, or breathing difficulties. “There is a risk of respiratory distress, particularly when combined with other substances. This reinforces the importance of not using alone and of having companions who have naloxone and know how to use it,” public health stated. “Prevent these tablets from ending up in the hands of people (children and adults) who might mistake them for candy.” Public health says people should take steps to prevent an overdose: People should call 911 if there is an overdose.
