Drug that could be 'more toxic than fentanyl' being sold in northern B.C.

Northern Health is warning that a toxic drug that is "equal or more toxic than fentanyl" is being sold in northern B.C.

The health authority issued the alert Thursday, saying it had tested round white pills as positive for the synthetic opioid sotonitazene or "nitazene". 

Created in the 1950s as potential pain relievers, they were never approved for clinical use.

However, they have emerged within recreational drug supplies in the United States, Canada and European countries since 2019.

Scientists have relatively little information about how the human body reacts to nitazenes because the chemicals have never gone through clinical trials that offer a chance to find out.

Northern Health says the drug has been detected in pills being sold as oxycocet, a prescription pain reliever.

It warns that while the drug cannot be detected by fentanyl strips, it can be treated using naloxone, though a greater dose may be needed. 

Drug users are reminded not to use alone and to have a plan in case of an overdose.