The question arises: How can a teenager get such an opioid?
“Because of prohibition,” these drugs remain “in the hands of completely unregulated players,” believes the general director of CACTUS Montreal, Jean-François Mary.
In addition, due to the difficulty of obtaining medicines, young people opt for counterfeit medicines found on the streets.
“In this case, the person thought they were buying oxycodone and ended up getting something that is dozens if not hundreds of times stronger,” Mr. Mary adds.
Unfortunately, the presence of these substances is not new. For the organization's general director, we are in a situation similar to the alcohol ban of the 20th century, when “adulterated” formulas were the cause of several deaths.
Remember, Mathis thought he was taking oxycodone, but the person who sold him the pill gave him isotonitazene instead. As of August 2020, this opioid has been detected in toxicology autopsy analyzes of 14 people in Montreal.
Naloxone can be used to reverse the effects of isotonitazene. However, due to its effectiveness, the use of more than one dose of the antidote may be necessary.
Watch the full interview in the video.