Police in Saint John are warning that a dangerous opioid drug known as carfentanil may be circulating in the community.
Lab testing by the Coroner’s office in two separate sudden death cases have confirmed the presence of carfentanil “in blood that had reached clinically toxic levels,” according to Saint John Police.
The deaths took place in January and February and remain under investigation. It’s unclear where the drugs came from, and what the final causes of death are.
“Carfentanil is an opioid analgesic used to immobilize large animals. It is not approved for human use,” police wrote in a release.
“It is estimated to be approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Its pharmacological effects include analgesia, euphoria, sedation, and respiratory depression that may lead to death.”
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