Rise of new opioid highlights unpredictable drug supply: Expert

OTTAWA — A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly being found in Canada's unregulated drug supply.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction said in an alert there is a rising presence in the drug supply of potent synthetic opioids referred to as nitazenes, which are often more potent than fentanyl.

Nitazenes usually appear unexpectedly in drugs assumed to contain other types of opioids like fentanyl, oxycodone and non-medical benzodiazepines.

This type of substance was only detected in less than one per cent of samples analyzed by Health Canada in 2021, said the centre, while noting it was four times the levels detected in 2020.

“One of the purposes of these alerts is not necessarily to put them out when the house is burning down, but more when there's a spark that got out of the fireplace,” said Sarah Konefal, research and policy analyst at the centre.

It is likely that the presence of nitazenes is underestimated, because some drug checking services in Canada don't have the tools to actually detect this type of substance, said Konefal.

“One of the concerns is that we're only looking at the tip of the iceberg.”

Recalling when fentanyl first appeared in Canada in 2013, Konefal said the centre released an alert based on a handful of reports of its presence in communities.

Given that nitazenes are more potent along with the fact that they're in drugs that have the same effect, it will increase risk of opioid poisoning, Konefal said.

Nitazenes have caused the death of four Ontario people, according to the Office of the Chief Coroner.