The Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning residents of Northumberland County that counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl may be in circulation.
The Community Street Crime Unit recently seized 20,000 pills that tested positive as fentanyl. The light blue-coloured pills are stamped ‘A215’, a designation attributed to oxycodone 30mg.
While the investigation is ongoing, the OPP is warning the public that similar pills may be in circulation and not to ingest any medication not prescribed by a physician.
Fentanyl is a synthetic (man-made) opioid that is more toxic than most other opioids. It is around 20 to 40 times more toxic than heroin and 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine.
While fentanyl can be prescribed by a physician, it is being increasingly produced in illegal labs to be sold on the streets, often mixed with other drugs.
