Vancouver Coastal Health is asking drug users to be on alert after an especially toxic opiate caused seven people to overdose at a supervised consumption site.
Staff received reports of 鈥渟imilar and unusual symptoms鈥� connected to a 鈥済reen-coloured opiate鈥� at the Maple Overdose Prevention site in Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside Tuesday night, said spokesperson Tiffany Akins.
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Seven people were said to have shown signs of muscle rigidity and 鈥減inned,鈥� or constricted, pupils.
鈥淲e used our new radar warning system and sent an alert out to relevant service providers,鈥� said Akins. You can sign up for these alerts by 鈥渁lert鈥� to 236-999-3673.
She said the drug might not necessarily be new or unusual, but the health authority doesn鈥檛 know what it is.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 check their drugs [before they use],鈥� she said. 鈥淲e only know what they think that they bought.鈥�
Because drugs are often bought and used in small quantities, Akins said, Vancouver Coastal Health can鈥檛 send anything to a lab for testing.
鈥淎ll we know is that it was a more toxic substance than we usually see,鈥� she said.
Fraser Health confirmed that they have not had any reported cases of the unknown green opiate at either one of their supervised consumption sites.
All seven people were revived, likely, Akins said, because they were not using alone.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what these overdose prevention sites are for. They save lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ho knows what would have happened if they were using alone.鈥�
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