Halifax Regional Police are warning the public about potentially dangerous drugs stolen from the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre over the past three weeks.

Police say they were contacted by hospital officials on August 14 after a number of vials disappeared from crash carts on various floors of the hospital.

“It would suggest that someone who knew what they were looking for went after them,” says John Gillis, a spokesman for the Capital District Health Authority.

At least 16 vials of Midazolam are believed to have been stolen since the beginning of August, although police were only informed of the thefts last week.

“The way this was happening, we wanted to look at the evidence that we had here through our security video to see if we could resolve the problem quickly, and when we couldn’t, we turned to the police for help,” says Gillis.

Police say they waited a week to inform the public about the thefts to ensure there hadn’t simply been an accounting error.

Midazolam is a type of Benzodiazepine drug that is commonly used for inducing sedation before medical procedures, but it can be dangerous if used inappropriately. It is water soluble, odourless, tasteless and colourless, and police say it is sometimes used as a date rape drug.

Investigators are warning the public that the drugs could be anywhere and could post a threat to almost anyone.

“It could easily be mixed into a drink and then used to wipe your memory, so you wouldn’t remember anything from the night in question,” says Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages.

They are reminding citizens to be especially careful when drinking in public. They say it is best to watch drinks carefully as they are poured, not to accept drinks from strangers, not to leave them unattended or with someone you’re not comfortable with, and not drink anything that tastes, smells or looks strange.

The thefts come as thousands of university students return to Halifax for the new school year.

“It’s definitely scary. I want to be looking out for my friends and making sure they’re not getting into any situations they wouldn’t want to be in,” says university student Taylor Goodwin.

Police are searching for possible suspects and Capital Health is taking measures to ensure there are no more thefts. Hospital officials have taken the drug off all crash carts at the QEII until further notice.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact police.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Alyse Hand