'Toxic drug supply is killing our relatives': Animal tranquillizer found in overdose death reports in Winnipeg
An animal tranquillizer is making its way into Winnipeg’s street drug supply.
Xylazine - also known as zombie drug - has been found in toxicology reports of three people who have died of an overdose.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba says three people who died of an overdose, two in August and one in October, had xylazine in their toxicology report.
Davey Cole, the coordinator of Sunshine House’s Mobile Overdose Prevention Site, estimates most street drugs in Winnipeg are cut with other substances.
“The toxic drug supply is killing our relatives and our kin,” they said.
Cole says contacts in other parts of the country had told them about xylazine getting in drug supplies, such as opioids.
Cole says they are "trying to get as much information about it as possible within our community, word of mouth, and also from Vancouver to really learn how to tackle this. I'm assuming we're going to be seeing more of it."
Shared Health does not have data specific to xylazine - but can say in general it’s seen 1,530 instances of substance misuse, 915 instances of overdose ingestion, and 609 instances of substance withdrawal since September.
Cory Guest, the public education coordinator with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, says the level of toxicity and unregulated drug ingredients is something WFPS hasn't ever seen.
"What we know through outside agencies and through provincial testing that (xylazine) is here,” Guest said.” So it’s fair to say that the acuity that we're seeing with our patients is likely going to increase with this drug."
He also says they are seeing more resistance to naloxone than ever before.
Xylazine has no treatment.
“It's really the most acute central nerve system depressing drug that are out there. So your airway is going to be compromised, your level of consciousness will be compromised. There are a lot of really scary things that can happen to these folks."
On Monday, Sunshine House began training staff on a new drug-testing device that can test substances.
“It’s got like a laser in it and judges or tests the chemical compound in the drug,” Cole said.
Cole is hopeful this will help people understand what is in the substances people before using them.
"Drugs can be something that folks use thinking they're going to have a certain feeling, and, as we know with the toxic drug supply, that's not always a for sure thing."
A prepared statement from the Province of Manitoba says it acknowledges the increasing presence of xylazine in the province and across Canada.
"Every life lost to substance use is tragic and devastating to Manitobans and we must continue to offer supports for Manitobans," it said.
The province says it will continue to strengthen care for people who have substance use and addictions challenges, which it says includes prevention, early intervention and harm reduction, treatment and long term recovery.
The WFPS is asking anyone who thinks they might be witnessing someone experiencing an overdose to call emergency services immediately.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.