New fentanyl-like street drug recently identified locally

Waterloo Regional Police have confirmed the local presence of a new fentanyl-like street drug.

Police say they seized a small amount of what they thought was fentanyl during an investigation last December but Health Canada analysis later confirmed it had instead tested positive for Furanyl UF-17.

The drug, which WRPS says is also potentially deadly, is related to an antidepressant developed in the 1980s, according to Health Canada.

The federal health department says Furanyl also bares a chemical resemblance to fentanyl and most often found as a white powder.

“Little information is known about Furanyl UF-17,” Health Canada said in a statement to 570 NEWS. “Preliminary data suggests Furanyl UF-17 does not present classic opioid activity however, preliminary information does indicate that Furanyl UF-17 may produce dysphoria effects (i.e., the opposite of euphoria) and hallucinations.”

Locally, Waterloo Region's police chief says, given the widespread crackdown on fentanyl, it's not a surprise to see a new drug hit the streets.

“Even the Oxycontin transitioned to fentanyl,” said WRPS Police Chief Bryan Larkin. “You know, a number of policy decisions happen and we're seeing already people being resourceful and transitioning to a derivative of fentanyl.”

But with 16 suspected opioid-related deaths already in 2021, Larkin says it is concerning given this new drug is also potentially deadly.

Last year, Waterloo Region reached an unfortunate record with 98 suspected overdose related deaths and, this year, that number already sits at 16.

Given Furanyl UF-17 was first identified in Ontario in August 2019, Health Canada says it can't rule out if the drug is linked to any of those deaths.

“Furanyl UF-17 has not yet been linked to drugs overdoses,” the health department told 570 NEWS. “However, it may have not been investigated in toxicology screens.”  

“Last year was unfortunately a record year for overdose deaths,” said Larkin. “On top of addiction, the pandemic, some of the economic challenges we're facing as a community, we need to continue to have hard conversations about how we're going to address addiction in Waterloo Region.”

Larkin, specifically noting Waterloo Region's first and only safe-consumption site in Kitchener, saying it may be a polarizing issue, but people are dying.

“We have one consumption treatment site in the region,” Larkin said. “And if you look at our shelter care approach, we very much have moved individuals away from that consumption treatment site.”

“It's not accessible anymore, shelter care is either in Cambridge or it's actually moved up to Waterloo.”

Cambridge City Council resolved in mid-2019 to search out possible sites for a future safe consumption site though that has received some fierce push back from the community.