Just because it’s a different colour, doesn’t mean it’s any less deadly.
That’s what North Bay police are saying about “green fentanyl” that has recently been found in the city.
Sgt. Aaron Northrup says despite fentanyl being found in different colours, its danger does not change.
“It’s almost like a marketing ploy with drug dealers,” he noted. “It’s still dangerous. It’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.”
Northrup says police assisted EMS on “numerous” calls for overdoses over the weekend, also seizing two small samples of the new drug. He says those who respond to overdoses are also put at risk by the drug.
“You have first responders going to these calls and they’re exposed to it as well,” Northrup said. “Just a bit of the residue can be deadly for anybody.”
Northrup says it can take up to eight weeks for police to receive lab results new drugs they find, so they won’t know for a while if this new strain has been cut with other substances.
The Good Samaritan Act protects people who call in a drug overdose from being arrested on drug charges, which Northrup recommends people participate in if needed.
“If someone is overdosing, call it in,” he said. “You’re not in any danger of arrest.”
