Montreal public health warns of new 'Zombie drug' spreading in the city
Montreal's regional health authority (DRSP) is warning about a new and dangerous drug circulating in the city.
Xylazine, also known as "tranq" or "Zombie drug," is an animal tranquillizer used in veterinary medicine that is not meant for humans to consume.
However, it can be cut with opioids such as fentanyl, leading to breathing issues, irregular heartbeat, and overdose.
A preliminary report from the DRSP released on Thursday shows xylazine was detected in 5 per cent of 300 urine samples collected in Montreal last fall.
The health authority is now calling for healthcare professionals and community organizations to be vigilant and ramp up response efforts.
That's easier said than done, says Jean-Francois Mary, executive director of CACTUS Montreal. a community-based harm reduction organization.
"The fact that we don't have access to real-time data is a major barrier to putting in place appropriate actions," said Mary.
CACTUS Montreal offers drug testing services, but so far, there's been no trace of xylazine.
"It's actually a substance that we cannot usually detect in a routine screening," said Mary, adding xylazine must represent more than 5 per cent of a sample to be detected.
An overdose on either xylazine or fentanyl can look the same with one key difference: Naloxone, a fast-acting drug which can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, does not work with xylazine.
"Sometimes we witness that Naloxone doesn’t bring back totally the person, so the person remains unconscious … and we need for the person to be taken care of by paramedics," said Mary.
While the drug is only now being detected in Montreal, Canadian authorities first found xylazine on the illicit drug market in 2012.
"We knew it was coming," said Mary, adding the substance has been prevalent in Puerto Rico for years.
"Then, at some point two years ago, it popped up in the fentanyl supply in Philadelphia, and then it spread to the wall of the East Coast, and then it spread to B.C., and then it spread to Toronto. So then we knew that next was Montreal," said Mary.
Mary says governments need to invest more in coroner services and drug screening to cut down on long testing delays so that those on the front lines of the drug epidemic can keep people safe.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Oilers starting Calvin Pickard in goal for Game 4 vs. Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers will start Calvin Pickard in net Tuesday for Game 4 of their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.