Drug alert issued for Saskatoon area after test finds potentially deadly mixture

Alex Kozroski · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 07, 2025 8:56 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

After conducting tests connected thoroughfare substances, Saskatoon Prairie Harm Reduction has discovered unsafe substances warranting a cause alert. 

Issued past night, the Ministry of Health's alert said the drugs enactment users astatine a peculiarly precocious hazard of overdose and death.

Tests came backmost showing the drugs to incorporate para-fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines. Also discovered was medetomidine, which is simply a sedative recovered successful veterinary anesthetic medication.

The drugs tested could beryllium smoked oregon injected, and were successful the signifier of fine, gravel-like coloured chunks.

A ample country surrounding Saskatoon had been issued a cause alert aft the find of a perchance deadly substance mixture. (Government of Saskatchewan/Alertable)

The alert indicates Naloxone tin forestall overdose with opioids, but won't reverse immoderate effects of benzodiazepines oregon medetomidine. 

Naloxone works by competing with drugs similar fentanyl to instrumentality implicit the opioid receptors, adjacent blocking and displacing antecedently bound opioids. This won’t impact non-opioid drugs, however.  Medetomidine inhibits the merchandise of norepinephrine, and benzodiazepines impact the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. 

By mixing the forms of drugs, it creates a overmuch higher accidental of overdose oregon adjacent death, with less ways to dainty oregon forestall it.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health says the alert volition stay successful effect until Nov. 13.

To trim the hazard of overdoses, the Ministry of Health suggests getting a take-home naloxone kit, and calling the National Overdose Response Service if you are alone. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects those who question retired exigency assistance during an overdose oregon those who witnesser an overdose.