Naloxone-resistant fentanyl compounds feared in B.C.

VANCOUVER — New types of fentanyl compounds resistant to the antidote used to treat overdoses mean B.C.’s fentanyl-fuelled death toll could keep climbing.

There are more than 40 fentanyl analogs being manufactured, including some that render the typical dose of naloxone ineffective, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said Thursday.

One of the compounds, acrylfentanyl, was the subject of a recent Drug Enforcement Administration warning after it surfaced in some parts of the U.S.

“Acrylfentanyl hangs around longer, and you may need more naloxone to reverse the effects of that compared to fentanyl,” said Kendall, adding the synthetic compound also appears to linger longer in the body.

Kendall said authorities do not know whether acrylfentanyl is in B.C., although health officials plan to conduct specific tests to determine which analogs are showing up on the street.

The presence of two other analogs — carfentanil and furanyl fentanyl — already have been found in B.C.

Carfentanil is 100 times more toxic than fentanyl and is often used as an animal tranquillizer, while furanyl fentanyl is 20 times more potent than morphine and is often marketed as a designer drug.

Vancouver recorded 41 suspected overdose deaths in April, the second-highest month on record this year. Only January, with 47 suspected overdose fatalities, was deadlier.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue received 688 overdose calls in April.

In 2016, 914 people died due to illicit drug overdoses in B.C.