Toxic street drugs ‘wreaking havoc’ on people who use them, challenging doctors

published on September 24, 2026 by Alana Cole in CBC News

A recent drug alert posted online by a Winnipeg public health team shows how the street supply is increasingly unpredictable as substances have become more powerful and dangerous.

Testing of a substance believed to be linked to a fatal overdose found fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl — a synthetic fentanyl-like opioid with an unknown potency — and the strong animal tranquilizer medetomidine.

It’s only one sample. But it paints a picture of a toxic drug supply addiction medicine specialist Dr. Paxton Bach said has grown more potent and volatile, and is “wreaking havoc” on the lives of those using substances…