The N.W.T.’s top public health official is cautioning residents regarding the discovery of carfentanil mixed with powdered cocaine in confiscated drugs in Hay River. Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, is significantly more potent than morphine and fentanyl. Dr. Kami Kandola, the Chief Public Health Officer, disclosed in a health advisory that a beige powder seized on September 11 tested positive for carfentanil, cocaine, and phenacetin, a discontinued pain-relief medication associated with harmful kidney effects.
While carfentanil has been previously identified in N.W.T. drugs, this is the first instance of it being found in powdered cocaine. Anyone suspecting an overdose is urged to dial 9-1-1 or contact their local health facility. Warning signs of an opioid overdose include slowed or absent breathing, bluish lips and nails, choking, gurgling sounds, extreme drowsiness, difficulty waking up, or cold, clammy skin.
Individuals involved in an overdose are shielded from drug possession charges under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, which aims to prompt individuals to seek help in overdose situations. Kandola recommends that drug users avoid solitary drug use, start with small doses, refrain from combining drugs with alcohol, and keep naloxone nearby. Naloxone kits, which help reverse opioid overdoses, are accessible at all hospitals, health centers, and pharmacies in the N.W.T.
In 2024, there were seven opioid-related fatalities recorded across five N.W.T. communities. The latest advisory underscores a troubling evolution in the region’s illicit drug landscape.
