Emergency services in Moncton, New Brunswick, reported a sharp increase in overdose calls over a recent weekend linked to suspected drug contamination [1], [2].
The surge indicates a potentially lethal shift in the local illegal drug supply. When animal tranquilizers are mixed into fentanyl, the resulting combination can increase potency and complicate emergency medical responses, raising the risk of fatal outcomes for users.
Moncton's fire department received 52 overdose calls between Friday and Monday [1]. This volume represents a significant deviation from the city's typical emergency patterns, where the department usually handles four to five calls per day [1].
Other emergency data suggests the impact was even broader. New Brunswick ambulance services reported 65 suspected overdose calls during the same Friday-to-Monday window [2]. The discrepancy between the fire department and ambulance figures reflects different reporting metrics across emergency response agencies.
Investigators and harm-reduction workers said that the drug supply has been contaminated with animal tranquilizers [1], [3]. These additives are often used to stretch the volume of illegal drugs or to mimic the effects of more expensive substances, but they can cause severe respiratory depression or unpredictable sedation.
Local harm-reduction workers have issued warnings to the community regarding the presence of these veterinary sedatives in the illegal supply [3]. These workers provide critical on-the-ground intelligence to first responders to help identify new trends in drug toxicity.
New Brunswick ambulance services and Moncton's fire department continue to monitor the situation as they coordinate with health officials to mitigate the impact of the contaminated supply [1], [2].
“Moncton's fire department received 52 overdose calls over the weekend”
The introduction of veterinary tranquilizers into the illicit opioid supply creates a dual threat: it increases the likelihood of overdose and may render standard reversal agents, like naloxone, less effective for the sedative component of the drug. This spike suggests a volatile shift in the local drug market that requires immediate public health intervention to prevent a rise in mortality.
