UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE SOLD AS COCAINE

November 23, 2021 – Dartmouth, NS

An unknown substance is being sold as cocaine in Dartmouth, NS over the past couple of weeks. It was sold in a small dime bag that contained a crushed white substance that appeared to be crushed up pills. When snorted, the following adverse effects were observed: severe anxiety, chest pains, paranoia, sweating, shaking, extreme burn in nostrils, nausea and irrational thoughts.

Please follow these tips for safer use:
-Don’t use alone, if possible. If you have to use alone, call a trusted support person, let them know you are using alone and provide them with your location. Or visit www.nors.ca to have someone supervise your use over the phone.
-Use fentanyl testing strips beforehand if they are available in your community.
-Start with a test dose. Start low, go slow.
-Have naloxone available, even if you aren’t intentionally using opioids. Although naloxone only works to reverse opioid overdoses, there is no harm in administering it if you are unsure what kind of overdose you are witnessing. Naloxone is available for free from most community pharmacies and other community locations, including needle distribution and disposal organizations. For more information about where to get a free naloxone kit and how to use it, visit http://www.nsnaloxone.com/