Toronto’s Drug Checking Service develops and disseminates information on new or noteworthy drug trends presenting in Toronto’s unregulated drug supply to inform people who use drugs, as well as those who support and provide care for them.
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Toronto’s Drug Checking Service is observing an increase in the presence of nitazene opioids in samples expected to be oxycodone (OxyContin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), hydrocodone, and Percocet.
Learn moreFor the first time, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service has identified N-desethyl etonitazene and protonitazepyne in Toronto’s unregulated opioid supply.
Learn moreFor the first time, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service has identified medetomidine in Toronto's unregulated drug supply. Between December 29, 2023, and January 23, 2024, medetomidine was found in 11% of the expected fentanyl samples checked by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service (15 of 140 samples). The presence of medetomidine was not expected by those who submitted the sample to be checked.
Learn moreToronto’s Drug Checking Service continues to identify what we consider “ultra potent” opioids in Toronto’s unregulated drug supply, including: carfentanil, etonitazene and isotonitazene.
Learn moreFor the first time, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service has identified etonitazene in Toronto's unregulated drug supply. Etonitazene has presented in one expected fentanyl sample, alongside isotonitazene and cocaine. The presence of etonitazene was not expected by those who submitted the sample to be checked.
Learn moreFor the first time, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service has identified isotonitazene in Toronto's unregulated drug supply. Isotonitazene has now presented in 2 expected fentanyl samples, alongside fentanyl, heroin, and the benzodiazepine-related drug, etizolam. The presence of isotonitazene was not expected by those who submitted these samples to be checked.
Learn moreBetween March 3 and April 1, 2021, carfentanil was found in 3% of the expected fentanyl samples checked by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service (3 of 104 samples). The presence of carfentanil was not expected by those who submitted these samples to be checked.
Learn moreBetween December 3 and 10, 2020, xylazine, a tranquilizer approved only for use on animals, was found in 22% of the expected fentanyl samples checked by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service (5 of 23 samples). Xylazine was found alongside fentanyl and fentanyl-related drugs, caffeine, and etizolam (benzodiazepine-related).
Learn moreBetween October 2 and 22, 2020, xylazine, a tranquilizer approved only for use on animals, was found in 12% of the expected fentanyl samples checked by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service (11 of 90 samples). Xylazine was found alongside fentanyl and fentanyl-related drugs, caffeine, etizolam (benzodiazepine-related), Benadryl, and other opioids and opioid-related drugs, like heroin, hydromorphone, and furanyl UF-17.
Learn moreBetween September 18 and October 13, 2020, a synthetic cannabinoid, AMB-FUBINACA, was found in 6% of the expected fentanyl samples checked by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service (7 of 118 samples). AMB-FUBINACA was found in trace amounts (less than 2% of drugs found), alongside fentanyl, caffeine, heroin, and other fentanyl-related drugs.
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