Tainted drugs may be responsible for overdoses in The Pas, RCMP warn

Mounties in northern Manitoba are warning that six overdoses in the same community this weekend may be from a drug that’s been laced with fentanyl.

RCMP issued a news release saying they received a report on Saturday night about four unresponsive men at a location in The Pas.

They learned the men ingested ecstasy possibly laced with an opioid, and police and paramedics administered naloxone in an effort to revive them.

Three of the four men were revived and taken to hospital where they were treated and later released, but a 46-year-old man was eventually flown south to Brandon where he remains in critical condition.

Several hours later, RCMP say they received an additional report of two other overdoses at the same location, adding the two men involved were taken to hospital where they were treated and released.

RCMP are advising the community of a dangerous illicit drug circulating in the area which is believed to be in a crystal-like powder form, purple in color, and may contain fentanyl.

Since, Mounties in Thompson, Man., have seized an unknown substance they believe is linked to six overdose hospitalizations in another community in the province’s north.

A nurse at the Thompson General Hospital turned over a box containing seven vials of a crystal-like powder to police on Sunday while an officer was there on an unrelated matter.

Police say in a release the officer tested the substance and an opioid was found to be present.

RCMP believe the substance turned over in Thompson may be the same one discovered in The Pas over the weekend that led to six men being hospitalized, including one who was flown to Brandon in critical condition, where he remains.

Police in Thompson have reported one overdose that is believed to be linked to the same drug.

A sample has been forwarded for further testing