Extremely potent synthetic opioid found for first time in street drug

A synthetic opioid four times stronger than fentanyl was detected at Street Connections for the first time.

A white, round pill sold as Percocet was found to contain metonitazene, Street Connections — run by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority — said in a drug alert last week. The pill had a marking of “TEC” on one side and a scored line on the other.

The pill was tested at Street Connections on Dec. 19, but the results were inconclusive. It was sent for further testing, which detected metonitazene.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of metonitazene, but it might take more doses to revive someone.