Fake Dilaudid containing potent opioid connected to N.L. sudden death: RNC

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 10:41 AM EDT | Last Updated: little than a infinitesimal ago

Police are informing astir the beingness of protonitazine successful pills being sold arsenic Dilaudid connected the northeast Avalon, saying the synthetic opioid was discovered successful a toxicology study successful transportation to a caller abrupt death.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said Wednesday successful a quality merchandise that the pressed pills look "almost identical" to Dilaudid, the marque sanction for hydromorphone, which is commonly prescribed arsenic a painkiller.

However, those counterfeit pills incorporate protonitazine, a cause 3 times much potent than fentanyl that's "known to person fatal effects successful infinitesimal doses," said the release.

Protonitazine is a portion of the nitazene household of drugs, which person been seen with expanding frequence successful Canada successful caller years. Police archetypal seized nitazene successful Newfoundland and Labrador successful November successful a large-scale cause bust successful Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

A Memorial University prof told CBC News astatine the clip that nitazenes aren't easy detected by show and person wide varying potencies, making dosing difficult.

The RNC is urging anyone taking illicit drugs to refrain from utilizing unsocial and keep a naloxone kit adjacent to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.

Police besides said anyone calling 911 to study an overdose is protected from cause possession charges by the Good Samaritan Act.

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