Public health officials are concerned that naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote, might not be as effective for someone overdosing on carfentanil.
Advertisement
THE RCMP have charged Joshua Wrenn, 24, of Calgary with one count of importation of a controlled substance and one count of possession for the objective of trafficking a controlled substance after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized carfentanil, a narcotic that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
It’s the second time the CBSA in Vancouver have seized carfentanil, officers said. In July, health officials in OH issued a warning about the drug after a string of mass overdoses where the substance was found in the heroin supply. A man in OH was charged in connection to a death and a number of overdoses following the incidents.
In 2002, Russian military gassed Chechen rebels at a Moscow theater during a hostage situation.
“If you look at what one kilogram of carfentanil can produce, it’s approximately 50 million fatal doses that could have hit our Canadian streets”, said RCMP Insp.
“I can see why drug dealers and traffickers are interested in this drug, because the amount you have to smuggle in is so small for the clinical effects that you get”, Dr. Dick said. According to a member of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians quoted by AP, “just a little bit short of a hazmat suit” is used to handle the drug when it’s being prepared as a sedative for animals such as elephants.
Wrenn’s name and address were on the package, which was listed as being printer accessories, said Ana Maria Coutu, CBSA chief of operations at the Calgary International Airport.
On Tuesday, CBSA announced Joshua Wrenn, a 24-year-old Calgary man, has been charged with one count of importation of a controlled substance and one count of possession for the goal of trafficking a controlled substance pursuant, in relation to the intercepted parcel.
His first court appearance is in Calgary Provincial Court on October 19.
“Now we’re seeing a lot more analogs that are extremely more toxic, carfentanil being, as was mentioned, a hundred times more toxic than fentanyl itself”, said Calgary Police A/Insp. The illicit drug trade remains a dynamic and lucrative criminal activity that spans borders throughout the world.
Advertisement
She also says local treatment centers just recently gained the ability to test for fentanyl – and managing carfentanil use will be challenging. “In the meantime, people die”.
