‘It could happen anywhere’: Smaller Sask. communities dealing with toxic drugs

WATCH: Big cities aren’t the only places dealing with toxic drugs, as an overdose alert was issued this week in Swift Current. Mick Favel has the details.

Earlier this week, residents of Swift Current were alerted that there were several suspected overdoses happening in the area, including one that became fatal.

It’s a type of alert few residents recall receiving before.

“I think a lot of people think because it’s a smaller community that we aren’t going to have those same issues,” said Andrea Adams, the Vice President of the Drug Strategy Action Committee of Swift Current.

“A lot of people weren’t expecting it to happen here. But the reality is it could happen anywhere,” she added.

The overdoses are being linked to a purple-coloured street drug being sold as ecstasy, MDMA or “Molly,” which has been laced with an unknown opioid.

• Sask. RCMP warning public of ‘unknown’ opioid found in Swift Current

Adams said the overdoses were significant, needing multiple naloxone kits to recover.

Sarah Kozusko is the operator of the Queen City Wellness Pharmacy.

She said it is a common situation in the area for people to buy and use a drug, only to overdose because of an added toxic ingredient.

Last week, two people overdosed near the pharmacy while Kozusko was on shift.

“We call them ‘drug poisonings,’ because people are getting drugs they are not expecting,” said Kozusko.

Adams says there is a drug shortage issue in Swift Current and wants the public to know there are resources in place in case of an opioid overdose.

She also warns that no street drug is safe. Without the proper testing, there is no telling what is in it.

“I think it is just so important for people to know that experimentation is not the way to go,” Adams said.

“Even when you think a drug is safe, you don’t know where it’s coming from. You don’t know what could be in it.”

The RCMP are continuing to investigate and said there are no specific drug composition details right now.