British Columbia is facing a severe crisis as fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fifty times more powerful than heroin, overwhelms the province. The region, particularly Vancouver, has long been a pioneer in harm reduction strategies aimed at curbing drug-related deaths. These policies have been effective against less potent drugs; however, the surge in fentanyl overdoses is straining their credibility. The situation poses significant political risks for Canadaโs Prime Minister, as recovery for many addicts has become nearly impossible. The Economist reports that fentanyl has flooded North America in recent years. (Photo: Getty Images)
Health authorities have issued an urgent warning over a white powder being sold to people in Melbourne as cocaine, which has been laced with a deadly synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than heroin > https://t.co/Ekp78Mj0to https://t.co/9N214CEzqE
Opioid-laced cocaine 100 times more potent than heroin sparks Victorian health warning https://t.co/otq104cog1
In Europe, the risk of more potent drugs arriving on the markets is growing. Cracking down on the gangs that are producing them may be a tall order https://t.co/RUroPvMJZE ๐
Fifty times more powerful than heroin, easy to make and cheap, fentanyl has flooded North America in recent years. Overdoses in Vancouver are posing political risks for Canadaโs prime minister https://t.co/1TcXPNMDBN Photo: Getty Images https://t.co/RXkn2oNUlL
For years Vancouver has pioneered a programme to curb drug-related deaths known as harm reduction. It has done well against less potent drugs, but deaths from fentanyl overdoses are surging https://t.co/Qp688s72d2 ๐
Fentanyl is overwhelming British Columbia. For many addicts in the Canadian province, recovery from the synthetic opioid has become nigh-impossible https://t.co/nRGDEHbU8j ๐
"British Columbia pioneered a liberal approach to reducing drug deaths. Fentanyl is straining the credibility of those harm-reduction policies." (The Economist) https://t.co/GLfI4QdaEp