Montreal public health is warning residents about illegally sold opioid pills circulating on the black market that could cause fatal overdoses. The health agency announced Wednesday that laboratory testing confirmed the presence of an unregulated, illegal, synthetic opioid in several counterfeit pills, as well as fentanyl in a pink powder being sold online. In the first case, etodezitramide, a synthetic opioid classified as an orphin analogue, was detected in counterfeit hydromorphone and oxycodone pills. The affected pills include: “There is little data on the use of etodezitramide. It is not a medication,” public health warned in a news release. “A genuine tablet and a counterfeit one may look and weigh the same.” Pink powder sold as ‘Tuci’ In a separate case, laboratory analysis identified a mixture of drugs in a pink powder being sold online as “Tuci.” The powder contained fentanyl, 4-ANPP, ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine. “Finding fentanyl in ‘Tuci’ blends is not normal or common,” public health said. “Fentanyl is a toxic opioid, even in very small amounts, for someone who does not normally use it.” Public health officials warned that consuming either of the products could lead to an overdose. Signs of an overdose include unconsciousness, little or no response to noise or pain, and difficulty breathing or an absence of breathing. Anyone witnessing a suspected overdose should call 911 and administer naloxone, if available. No overdose cases linked to the products have been reported to public health.
