Lunenburg District RCMP believes they have found fentanyl in the region for the first time ever.
While responding to a medical call earlier this week Lunenburg District RCMP seized a purple play-dough-like substance that is believed to contain fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid drug. A lethal dose for a typical adult can be as little as two milligrams— which is equal to two grains of salt.
According to Health Canada’s latest figures, 1,772 Canadians died due to opioid overdoses between January and March of this year, of those 82 percent involved fentanyl.
Cpl. Chris Marshall, with the RCMP, says the substance they seized tested positive for fentanyl in their preliminary tests but they are still awaiting confirmation from Health Canada.
Marshall says fentanyl seized in Nova Scotia is typically in pill form so this new substance is a cause for concern.
Fentanyl is often cut with other recreational drugs to increase its potency but doing so is very dangerous as if not mixed properly it can lead to lethal concentrations of fentanyl being masked in another drug.
