Greater Sudbury Police Service say they have confirmed the presence of a form of fentanyl powder in the city known as 'purple heroin.'
In a news release Friday, police say the dangerous drug mix was discovered when the Integrated Crime Team seized a quantity of heroin.
“The seized heroin was sampled, analyzed and confirmed by Health Canada to have been mixed with fentanyl powder,” the release said.
“The Greater Sudbury Police Service is committed to community safety and well-being and working collaboratively with community partners, thus through the Community Drug Strategy a Fentanyl Alert associated to the street name of purple heroin was issued yesterday.”
The drug can be lethal in very small doses, the release said. Unlike the fentanyl patch, which is prescribed, fentanyl powder and comparable drugs can take many different forms. The powders can be mixed with other controlled substances, such as heroin, or can appear in counterfeit tablet form.
“Counterfeit tablets containing fentanyl are often produced to appear like other prescription pills, such as oxycodone,” the release said. “Fake/pressed pills can easily crumble into powder and lose their structure.
“With dangerous illicit opioids such as Carfentanil and Fentanyl being accessible, all persons need to use extreme caution and not ingest or take any substance that is not prescribed.”
People battling addictions who use street-level drugs should take safety precautions such as using small doses, not taking them while alone and having Naloxone – a drug that reverses the effects of opioids — readily available in case of overdose.
“If anyone, at any time, is using a prescribed or illicit drug and is in need of emergency medical care due to an overdose; no matter the circumstances, never fear or hesitate calling for help by dialing 911,” the release said. “For accidental overdoses, the priority for emergency service responders is to offer medical assistance and to prevent a tragic death.”
Users who been affected by fentanyl or other controlled substances, and who want to tell police where it came from, can call 705-675-9171, or contact Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477).
All information will be confidential.
