Opioid substitute kratom found by Altona police

Warnings about new opioid substitute in Manitoba Beth Macdonell on the new substance discovered in two separate seizures in Manitoba.

The Altona Police Service said it encountered a new substance known as kratom while executing a search warrant last month.

Police said members from the Regional Response Tactical Team, Altona Police Service and Canada Border Services Agency searched a suite in the Southbend apartment block on April 10.

“Drugs seized include everything from marijuana, including edibles, to prescription pills, to counterfeit Xanax ,to MDMA, to name a few. Police also encountered a new substance known as kratom,” a news release said.

Altona Police Chief Perry Batchelor said Tuesday about 140 grams of the substance was seized. It was sent to a lab for testing.

“Cash and a relatively large amount of drugs were seized, totaling $18,000.00.”

Police said an Altona man was charged with several counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and a Gretna man was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

Both were released from custody for a future court date.

WHAT IS KRATOM?

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, kratom is a plant consumed throughout the world for its stimulant effects and as an opioid substitute.

The centre’s website said kratom is typically brewed into a tea, chewed, smoked, or ingested in a capsule. It said the drug is also known as Thang, Kakuam, Thom, Ketum, and Biak.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse has identified kratom as an emerging drug of abuse, and because deaths have been attributed to kratom in the United States, some jurisdictions have passed or are considering legislation to make kratom use a felon.

KRATOM PREVIOUSLY FOUND IN MANITOBA

The Winnipeg Police Service said in an email to CTV Winnipeg Tuesday that kratom is legal in Canada.

“It is not something our officers have really heard anything about, most likely due to the fact it is legal here in Canada”.

Meanwhile, RCMP said Kratom was also seized in Manitoba in 2012.

"Kratom is a plant and is not considered a drug as per the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which means its not an illegal act to be in possession of it or for consuming it," said Sgt. Paul Manaigre.

"One of the concerns that police have is the potential to mix kratom with other known illicit drugs to obtain the desired effect of the user," he added.

RCMP said any seized product will be sent for analysis to determine if any illicit drug was included.

Health Canada also has not authorized any product containing kratom for sale.

In a statement, it said kratom would be regulated as either a natural health product or a drug depending on how the product is used or taken.

It said based on the known uses, products sold as incense or teas that contain kratom could meet the definition of an NHP.

“It is illegal to sell NHPs in Canada without authorization from Health Canada,” it said.

“From Jan. 1, 1965 to April 26, 2017, the Canada Vigilance Program of Health Canada has not received any adverse reaction reports, including reports of deaths, involving kratom.”

DANGEROUS WHEN MIXED WITH DRUGS

Chief Batchelor said kratom is being used in Manitoba as a street drug.

"When it's being used as a street drug, people are ingesting this stuff and getting high. They are ingesting it through drinking it or eating it," he said.

Addictions expert Sheri Fandrey said just because kratom is plant-based, doesn't make it 100 per cent safe.

Kratom can be dangerous, especially if mixed with medications or drugs, and has harmful side effects like anxiety, aggression or delusions.

"When you think about it, cocaine is a plant-based product, heroin is a plant-based product, so some of our most dangerous and additive drugs have come from plants," Fandrey said.