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Fraser Health warns Coquitlam opioid users of local supply being laced with deadly tranquilizer

By Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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January 5, 2023

carfentanil-warning — BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug death containing carfentanil to August 2022.

A public warning has been issued to opioid users in Coquitlam about local drug supplies being contaminated with high levels of a deadly tranquilizer called carfentanil.

Fraser Health issued the warning on Jan. 4, stating that “white chunky samples” were circulating in Coquitlam.

“Friends, family and community members using opioids may face increased risk of overdose from both injection and inhalation,” the Fraser Health said.

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Carfentanil is normally used as a veterinary drug to put large animals to sleep, such as elephants.

BC Coroners Service most recent numbers on the province’s illicit drug crisis reported that 101 deaths in 2022 (to Oct. 31), and 190 deaths in 2021, were suspected to be related to the carfentanil contamination.

The provincial government describes carfentanil as looking similar to table salt, and ingesting one or two grains can be fatal. It can be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

The contaminated test samples were found in a product called “DOWN,” according to Toward the Heart, the province’s harm reduction supplier.

Opioid users are being told by the health authority not to use drugs alone, get their drugs tested, scale back on their dosage and carry a naloxone kit.

Coquitlam drug users can have their drugs tested by the Access Youth Outreach Services Society’s mobile van by calling 604-525-1888, or by visiting the Tri-Cities Public Health Unit located at 200-205 Newport Drive in Port Moody.

Naloxone kits can be picked up at pharmacies, clinics and community organizations across Metro Vancouver.

Author

Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Having spent the first 20 years of his life in Port Moody, Patrick Penner has finally returned as a hometown reporter.

His youth was spent wiping out on snowboards, getting hit in the face with hockey pucks, and frolicking on boats in the Port Moody Arm.

After graduating Heritage Woods Secondary School, Penner wandered around aimlessly for a year before being given an ultimatum by loving, but concerned, parents: “rent or college.”

With that, he was off to the University of Victoria to wander slightly less aimlessly from book, to classroom, to beer, and back.

Penner achieved his undergraduate degree in 2017, majoring in political science and minoring in history.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, translating this newfound education into career opportunities proved somewhat challenging.

After working for a short time as a lowly grunt in various labour jobs, Penner’s fruitless drifting came to an end.

He decided it was time to hit the books again. This time, with focus.

Nine months later, Penner had received a certificate of journalism from Langara College and was awarded the Jeani Read-Michael Mercer Fellowship upon graduation.

When that scholarship led to a front page story in the Vancouver Sun, he knew he had found his calling.

Penner moved to Abbotsford to spend the next three years learning from grizzled reporters and editors at Black Press Media.

Assigned to the Mission Record as the city’s sole reporter, he developed a taste for investigative and civic reporting, eventually being nominated for the 2023 John Collison Investigative Journalism Award.

Unfortunately, dwindling resources and cutbacks in the community media sphere convinced Penner to seek out alternative ways to deliver the news.

When a position opened up at the Tri-Cities Dispatch, he knew it was time to jump ship and sail back home to beautiful Port Moody.