Surge in fatal suspected overdoses as potent synthetic opioids found in unregulated drug supply: TPH

Health officials are warn‐ ing of a surge in suspected overdose deaths in Toronto as two powerful synthetic opioids were recently found in the unregulated drug supply.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) said Monday that para‐ medics responded to six fatal suspected overdoses be‐ tween March 14 and 17, about triple the average over four-day spans in the last three months.

The overdoses happened in various parts of the city, TPH said.

Toronto's Drug Checking

Service, a free program fun‐ ded by different levels of gov‐ ernment, discovered the presence of two highly potent synthetic opioids, called nitazene opioids, in samples taken from the street supply of drugs. One of the nitazene opioids is about 10 times stronger than fentanyl, while the other is roughly 20 times more potent.

The service also found a general increase in the pres‐ ence of nitazene compounds in samples thought to be the common opioid drugs oxy‐ codone, hydromorphone, hy‐ drocodone and Percocet, TPH said. The potential for overdoses in people who use these opioids, rather than fentanyl, may be higher be‐ cause their tolerance is likely lower, TPH added.

"Since nitazene opioids are potent, the risk of over‐ dose is increased and greater than normal doses of nalox‐ one may be required to rouse individuals experienc‐ ing an overdose," TPH said in a news release.

TPH urged drug users not to use alone, keep naloxone on hand, go to a supervised consumption site if possible and have their drugs check‐ ed.

WATCH | Toronto Public Health on the recent over‐ doses due to synthetic opi‐ oids: