A Montreal teenager died just days before Christmas after unknowingly taking a drug even more powerful than fentanyl. His heartbroken relatives want to make as many people as possible aware of the risks of an opioid overdose.
“He brushed his teeth, he put on his pajamas, he took off his glasses to put them on the bedside table and he went to bed like he did every night. The next day, four more pills like the ones he had taken were found in his wallet. He could have killed an elephant with what we sold him,” admits Christian Boivin, the father of 15-year-old Mathis, who died of respiratory failure due to an overdose.
According to his father, the eldest in the family was a teenager like any other. He grew up in a “normal” family. He attended a private school and “never wanted for anything.”
Christian Boivin, Mathis' father, holds the obituary of the young man who died of an overdose before Christmas. Photo Pierre Paul Poulin
These are precisely the reasons why the man who lost his son when he swallowed a single isotonitazene tablet spoke to the Journal; “Because it can happen to anyone.”
“Not a drug addict”
Like many young people his age, Mathis Boivin wanted to discover new things and break the rules. In the past year he had had several conversations with his parents about drug use.
“He told us he would like to try weed,” says the grieving father. My partner and I were very open with him. We discussed the risks and even offered to buy something for him to make sure he was consuming something safe.”
After that first foray into the world of narcotics, the teenager probably wanted to go further. However, he swore to his parents that he had “not consumed anything for a while” before his death.
“There was no sign, no trace. Mathis was not a drug addict. “Just a very curious teenager and someone took advantage of his naivety,” his father laments.
The young Mathis Boivin was very curious, says his father Christian. Photo Pierre Paul Poulin
The young man's friends confirmed that he wanted to get oxycodone, much to his family's dismay. Isotonitazene tablets look exactly like this prescription medication.
“The coroner did a toxicology analysis and confirmed to us what it was. […] I can't believe there are people twisted enough to sell this to children. “My son was poisoned without knowing it,” breathes Christian Boivin angrily.
He claims that Montreal police have currently failed to identify the person who allegedly sold the dangerous substance to the young man.
Huge emptiness
Members of Mathis Boivin's family are still in shock almost two weeks after the tragedy. The father stressed that his other son and daughter, aged 10 and 13 respectively, took the news hard but they “showed great strength”.
For his part, Mr. Boivin says he wants to do everything in his power to prevent the same thing from happening to other families.
“I wasn't looking for a reason to defend, but life gave me one. I will defend it in memory of my son,” he concludes.
Relatives and family members of Mathis Boivin will gather later today in Montreal on Friday for a ceremony in his honor.
Isotonitazene, a deceptive opioid
- Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service has issued several opinions on the presence of isotonitazene in Quebec since 2020.
- Mimics the appearance of the prescription drug oxycodone. It is sold in the form of a light blue tablet marked “A/215”.
- May also look exactly like hydromorphone, a triangular white pill with rounded corners and the letter M on one side and the number 8 on the other.
- According to experts, it is even stronger than fentanyl. A single dose can be fatal to someone unaccustomed to using opioids.
- Untraceable with fentanyl detection strips. Only laboratory analysis can identify it.
- As with other opioids, its effects can be counteracted by administering naloxone. More than one dose may be required.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.