In the Quebec City region, public health authorities have reported the emergence of a highly potent opioid, protonitazepyne, which is 25 times more powerful than fentanyl.
This substance poses a significant risk of overdose, potentially necessitating multiple administrations of the antidote naloxone.
Health Canada has recorded 25 instances of this substance nationwide in 2023. Moreover, since the onset of this year, its presence has been increasingly detected in the Montreal area.
The Quebec City regional public health authority has identified protonitazepyne in pale green tablets that resemble other prescription opioids. It is noteworthy that this substance does not register on test strips designed to detect fentanyl, as cautioned by the authority.
