(The Canadian Press/Jimmy Jeong)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19) and Sheldon Spackman

Increased Emergency Calls

Warning issued about xylazine entering Red Deer’s illicit drug supply

Sep 1, 2023 | 4:25 PM

Red Deer RCMP say a substance called xylazine, typically used for sedation of equines and other mammals but not including humans, has found its way into the local illicit drug supply.

Mounties hope that by issuing an advisory they can raise public awareness about its dangers, and about the potential for a rise in accidental drug-related overdoses.

RCMP clarify that xylazine is a horse tranquilizer and sedative, and poses an elevated risk for accidental overdose and an extreme risk of death in humans.

Residents should be mindful that Naloxone (Narcan), which is given after an overdose to reverse the effects, will not work against xylazine, Mountie say. Naloxone is typically used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, often involving fentanyl.

According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, naloxone will not reverse the effects of xylazine, however because it is often consumed with opioids like fentanyl, naloxone should still be given.

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The Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) notes that xylazine has also been identified alongside cocaine and methamphetamine.

“For overdoses involving combinations of xylazine and opioids, naloxone can reverse the opioid effects but has no effect on xylazine,” the CCENDU says in its July 2022 alert. “This can impact the success of the overdose response. There is no pharmaceutical antidote specifically for xylazine.”

It also notes that because xylazine is used as an adulterant — it makes another substance poorer quality — people may be unaware of its presence in the unregulated supply, raising the risk further.

RCMP also say they’ve become aware of an increase in emergency calls for overdoses specifically related to xylazine. If you suspect an overdose, call 911, or administer Naloxone if you’re carrying it and are trained to do so.

According to the Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System, EMS responses in Red Deer for overdoses, not broken down by specific substances, totalled eight in the first three weeks of August. There were roughly 24 calls in July, 21 in June, and 33 in May.

Turning Point Society was not available for comment about the RCMP warning, nor was Alberta Health Services which now operates Red Deer’s overdose prevention site. AHS referred rdnewsNOW to Alberta Health, who referred to a statement from Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams about the start of Recovery Month, issued Friday.

“To help Albertans get the help they need, we are increasing access to long-term addiction treatment by establishing 11 recovery communities across Alberta, including four in direct partnership with First Nations,” said Williams. “Additionally, we are building five 75-bed mental wellness centres for short and long-term treatment and four new youth mental wellness centres for youth with complex mental health needs.”

That includes a centre in Red Deer which began accepting clients this spring. It currently has roughly 30 to 40 clients.

“This Recovery Month, I encourage you to seek out stories of people living in recovery. If you have a recovery story of your own, consider sharing it – you never know who you might help just by sharing your challenges and triumphs,” Williams added. “Most importantly, if you’re struggling and need support, know that help is available. 211 Alberta is available via phone, text, and online to connect you with nearby services and supports.”

Meantime, the province released new data for May 2023 this week related to overdose deaths across the province.

New stats show there were seven opioid overdose deaths in Red Deer in May, the highest of any month this year, and level for the most with five other months since the start of 2019.

This year, 23 deaths were recorded in the first five months of the year, putting the city on pace for a worse total than in 2022 when there were 45.

There were 151 opioid-related overdose deaths in Alberta in May, down from a rise over the first four months of 2023. However, there have been 770 deaths through May this year, putting the province well on pace to smash its all-time record of 1,632 deaths in 2021. That year, there were 594 through May.

Xylazine is not currently listed on the Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System website under its polysubstances tab.