Kingston Public Health officials say carfentanil present in area street drugs

It first became prevalent in the region last year but since then, it’s gotten worse, and local health officials say it’s made its way to Kingston. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid — 100 times more lethal than fentanyl.

It has been found in all kinds of street drugs like heroin and cocaine as well as prescription pills like Percocet — so those ingesting the potentially deadly drug are likely not even aware they’re taking it — and because of the way it’s added, one hit may have more or less than the last.

“One of the biggest things people can do is not to use alone,” KFL&A Public Health’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla said. 

“So use with somebody else, and make sure you recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose.”

Dr. Karachiwalla adds, those who do plan on using should make sure they have a naloxone kit nearby. Naloxone will reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, but with carfentanil, one dose may not be enough.

The presence of drugs like carfentanil has even changed the way Kingston police officers deal with any confiscated narcotics.

Drugs are processed in an automated safety controller to remove any airborne substances.

“Years ago, you’d maybe just give it a quick sniff, and you could tell from the smell what kind of drug it is,” Kingston police Staff Sgt. Greg Sands said. “Yeah, you don’t do that anymore.”

The opioid crisis across Canada has been growing at an alarming rate, and while in Kingston it’s not yet reached the level it has in other parts of the country, public health officials are hoping to get the word out now before it’s too late.