'I'm horrified': N.B. advocates, users worried about animal tranquilizer
Four or five times a week, Josue Goguen tests street drugs at Ensemble in Moncton, N.B., to see exactly what's in them.
Since January, just over 10 per cent of what's been tested at the harm reduction clinic have had Xylazine in them.
Josue Goguen, overdose prevention service coordinator at Ensemble Greater Moncton, tests an unknown substance. (Derek Haggett/CTV Atlantic)
Xylazine is a powerful animal tranquilizer being used as an additive in opioids like fentanyl to prolong their effects.
Ensemble executive director Debby Warren said it represses breathing and heart rate and it's not safe for human consumption.
“It also effects their skin and causes horrific skin infections. Infections that can go very deep. Infections that could lead to amputation and are hard to heal,” said Warren.
Homeless advocate John Renton knew it was only a matter of time before it showed up in Moncton.
“I'm horrified by it. I think this summer is going to be tragic. Probably the worst we've ever seen,” said Renton. “It's not approved for humans. It's something that's made to stop a rhino or an elephant. It causes necrosis of the flesh. It leaves the user to be walking zombies.”
Ensemble client Eric “Stitch MacLeod” is aware of it and said using Xylazine in other drugs seems to be more common practice because fentanyl has become a hard commodity to find.
He’s very much aware taking street drugs could have the animal tranquilizer in it.
“We're gambling every day. But even before that we were gambling. Most street drugs are put together half the time in someone's bathtub. You never know what you're putting in your skin or what you're inhaling,” said MacLeod.
Warren said the main fear about Xylazine is the toxicity of it and overdoses are occurring not because substance users are taking too much, they just may not know what they were taking.
“They didn't get what they thought they were purchasing," she said.
Staff at Ensemble started training in January to see what is in the drugs commonly used by their clients in hopes of preventing overdoses.
“Every three and a half days a New Brunswicker is dying from these toxic, poisonous substances on the street,” said Warren. “The difference between their substance and the substance we call alcohol and cannabis is this group has a prohibition on it.”
Renton said there’s a good chance the people who are selling drugs aren't making them.
“They're buying it elsewhere and they don't know what's in it. Perhaps they're cooking it back further and adding more things to it,” said Renton.
Putting additives in drugs to increase the amount that can be sold goes back decades, Renton said.
“That's always happened to the drug supply,” he said. “Back in the seventies pot used to have herbs thrown in it to increase the volume. Now that's what they're doing with stuff that's out there now and it's no pot, it's a whole lot worse.”
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
'More aggressive': Tocchet shifts lineups as Canucks get ready to take on Oilers in Vancouver
As the Canucks prepare to take on the Oilers for Game 5, Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet is making changes to the team's lineup.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.