Checked samples by sample type
Between February 29 – March 13, 2020, 73 samples were checked: 49% (36) were substances and 51% (37) were used paraphernalia.
Checked samples by expected drug
When a sample is submitted to be checked, the drug that sample is expected to contain is recorded. Of the 73 samples checked between February 29 – March 13, 2020:
- 36 were expected to be fentanyl
- 13 were expected to be cocaine
- 4 were expected to be methamphetamine
- 10 were expected to be other drugs, including: 4-AcO-MET, 4-FA, 4-HO-MET, 4-HO-MiPT, 5-MeO-DMT, amphetamine, benzodiazepine, ketamine, and MDMA
- 5 were expected to be a polysubstance
- 5 did not have a stated expected drug
Expected fentanyl samples
Of the 73 samples checked between February 29 – March 13, 2020, 49% (36) were expected to be fentanyl (17% were substances and 83% were used paraphernalia).
Presence of fentanyl in expected fentanyl samples (36)
- 6% (2) contained no fentanyl
- 6% (2) contained only fentanyl
- 89% (32) contained fentanyl and other drugs
Expected fentanyl samples containing fentanyl and other drugs (32)
Of the 36 samples expected to be fentanyl, 89% (32) contained fentanyl and other drugs. Other drugs found included:
- 90% (29) contained caffeine
- 84% (27) contained despropionyl fentanyl (4-ANPP)*
- 44% (14) contained one or more benzodiazepine or benzodiazepine-related drug*:
- 41% (13) contained etizolam*
- 34% (11) contained flualprazolam*
- 34% (11) contained 6-MAM (heroin-related)
- 31% (10) contained heroin
- 31% (10) contained methamphetamine
- 25% (8) contained fentanyl (hydroxy)*
- 22% (7) contained cocaine
- 19% (6) contained acetyl fentanyl*
- 6% (2) contained norfentanyl*
- 3% (1) contained AMB-FUBINACA (synthetic-cannabinoid-related)*
- 3% (1) contained phenacetin*
Other expected drug samples containing unexpected noteworthy drugs
Of the remaining 37 samples checked between February 29 – March 13, 2020, meaning samples that were not expected to be fentanyl, 11% (4) contained one or more unexpected noteworthy drug. Unexpected noteworthy drugs found included:
- 8% (1) of expected cocaine samples contained levamisole*
- 8% (1) of expected cocaine samples contained phenacetin*
- 20% (1) of samples that did not have a stated expected drug contained despropionyl fentanyl (4-ANPP)*
- 20% (1) of samples that did not have a stated expected drug contained fentanyl*
- 20% (1) of samples that did not have a stated expected drug contained levamisole*
*Unexpected noteworthy drug: “Noteworthy drugs” are drugs that are highly potent, linked to overdose or other adverse effects, or may not be desired by some clients. Noteworthy drugs are called out when they are unexpectedly found in checked samples.