Windsor-Essex isn’t well-equipped to handle new potent drug hitting Ontario streets, experts warn | CBC News

Windsor-Essex isn’t well-equipped to handle a potent new drug entering the unregulated supply, experts said, as Windsor police warn of an animal tranquilizer mixed with drugs in Toronto. 

In a social media post this week, Windsor police warned of medetomidine, approved for veterinary use to sedate large animals.

While it is similar to xylazine, another potent animal tranquilizer that can now be found mixed into the toxic drug supply, medetomidine is considered more potent. 

Michael Parkinson is a drug strategies specialist with the Drug Strategy Network. The trend of additives like medetomidine isn’t going away, he said. 

“It’s sad, it’s deadly, but there is zero chance that the unregulated drug market is going to become safer or healthier,” he said.

In many cases according to Parkinson, medetomidine is mixed with fentanyl, an opioid.

WATCH | Here’s how an Ontario clinic tests for an animal tranquilizer in the street drug supply:

A potent tranquilizer is showing up in Ottawa’s drug supply. Here’s how this clinic can test for it

Supervised injection sites in Ottawa like the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre are sounding the alarm after finding traces of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, in the local drug supply. Derrick St John, program manager of the centre’s Oasis program, demonstrates how drugs can be tested in just a few minutes.

Parkinson said people should still administer naloxone if they suspect a drug overdose. But it may not have the same impact when opioids are mixed with other drugs. 

“The downside is with sedatives and benzodiazepines and what else it still knocks people out,” he said. “So you really have to monitor the patients, get them into a hospital, into emergency care if you can.”

“But we know that the data is clear that many people will refuse to go to hospital primarily out of fear of the criminal justice system.”

LISTEN | Windsor police warn of new drug in unregulated supply:

Parkinson said more action is needed on drug checking services, supervised consumption sites and safer supply options, although those are limited.  

But in the absence of that, he said people should stay up to date on what types of drugs are circulating and the signs and symptoms to watch for. In the event of an overdose, the emergency room is the best place to be, he added.

But it’s “all hands on deck” for advocating for more resources, from addiction treatment services to childhood prevention initiatives or harm reduction, he said.

Michael Brennan is the executive director of Pozitive Pathways, a advocacy and harm reduction organization in Windsor. He said seeing new drugs in the toxic drug supply is “nothing new … over the last many years.”

But, he added Windsor has a limited ability to respond to and identify toxic drugs circulating locally. 

“I mean, currently we have test strips for fentanyl, but that’s not a comprehensive response,” he said. 

“I don’t want to be an alarmist at this point since it is something that is just affecting the GTA. But often these substances do travel down the 401 and start impacting other communities in all directions.” 

Brennan pointed to services like SafePoint, a consumption and treatment site, and equipment like a spectrometer, which can be used to test a large range of substances circulating in the drug supply. 

He added there’s a need for safer substances, an issue he acknowledges is controversial, and for the communities of drug users to help keep each other informed.

“That information to help keep people safe actually comes from the people with lived experience who are actually using the substances themselves.”

“We actively try to on a day-to-day basis… meet individuals where they’re at … have open and transparent conversations with them about the types of substances they’re using and gather information and data on how that’s impacting them.”