Vancouver Police have confirmed that carfentanil has been linked to the death of a Vancouver man, following an opioid overdose in East Vancouver earlier this month.
On November 17th, shortly after 11 am, police were called by an individual who was concerned for a fellow employee. He had failed to show up for work or respond to phone calls, which was out of character for the man.
Officers attended his home near Nanaimo and Dundas Street to check on his well-being and found the man’s truck parked outside. With the help of the building manager, police were able access his suite and located the 39-year-old man deceased inside. An unknown drug, and drug paraphernalia, was located inside the apartment and submitted to Health Canada for analysis. The subsequent death investigation was managed by the BC Coroners Service.
Health Canada has now confirmed that the drugs found by police in the apartment contained carfentanil, a deadly opioid analog 100 times more toxic than fentanyl.
“This is the first confirmed death linked to carfentanil in Vancouver,” says VPD Staff Sergeant Randy Fincham. “Unfortunately, we suspect this death won’t be the last.”
Police are continuing to warn all drug users, and anyone associated with them, to be aware of the signs of overdose.
Early signs of an opioid overdose include:
- severe sleepiness
- slow heartbeat
- trouble breathing or slow, shallow breathing or snoring
- cold, clammy skin
- trouble with walking or talking
If any of these signs are observed in someone who is believed to have taken illicit drugs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Drug users are advised to never inject, snort, or swallow drugs alone, and to call 9-1-1 immediately if overdose symptoms start.
For more information on the dangers of opioids, visit knowyoursource.ca and the BC Overdose Awareness website.
