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HSHR/STREET CONNECTIONS – Fentanyl And medetomidine
October 2, 2025

A deep green chunk/pebble bought as “down” was tested at Street Connections on September 19, 2025. As local testing only detected fentanyl (on FTIR and test strips), and the client reported that the sedative effects were atypical (longer than expected), the sample was sent for confirmatory testing at Health Canada Drug Analysis Services (DAS). Results from DAS testing (quantitative analysis) were found to contain:

Fentanyl (4.51%), Medetomidine (1.63%), Caffeine (12.4%), and Erythritol (70%). The sample also contained a fentanyl precursor, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (4-ANPP) (3.23%).



Fentanyl is considered high potency synthetic opioid, considered to be up to 40 times stronger than heroin.

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer approved only for use on animals. It is stronger than xylazine. This drug last longer and the person may not wake up for a long time.

Caffeine is a stimulant normally found in coffee, and is often added to “down” samples. However, stimulants like caffeine DO NOT reverse the sedating and respiratory depression effects of opioids or tranquilizers.

This sample contained a mix of fentanyl, and an animal tranquilizer which can cause complex overdose/drug toxicity events that do not respond fully to naloxone. Using high-potency opioids in combination with animal tranquilizers increases the risk of dangerous suppression of vitals (e.g., slowing down of breathing, blood pressure, heart rate). Naloxone cannot reverse the sedative effects of non-opioid substances such as Medetomidine.

If you are concerned about an overdose, call 911 for emergency medical assistance.

In Canada, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act can provide you with some legal protection when you call 911, even if you have consumed drugs yourself.

For more information on drugs analyzed by DAS, see Analyzed Drug Report - Drug Analysis Service | Public Health Infobase - Public Health Agency of Canada

If you use drugs:

Don’t use alone and carry naloxone. Naloxone Finder – Take Home Program | Health | Province of Manitoba

If you are using alone, call the National Overdose Prevention Hotline at 1-888-688-6677 to connect to a safe consumption volunteer who stays on the line for 15-30 minutes while you use the substance. https://www.nors.ca/

Attend Drug Checking services to check for contaminants and take steps to reduce harms from potent or unex­pect­ed drugs.

In Win­nipeg, drugs can be checked at:

Street Connections: Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30am-3:30pm (closed at noon-hour) at 496 Hargrave

Nine Circles: Tues/Wed/Thurs 10:00am-4:00pm at 705 Broadway

HSHR/Street Connections - Para-Fluorofentanyl, Medetomidine and Bromazolam
September 22, 2025

A pink powder believed bought as “down” was tested at Street Connections on September 15, 2025. The sample was sent for confirmatory testing at Health Canada Drug Analysis Services (DAS), as local testing results only detected para-fluorofentanyl (on FTIR), benzodiazepines on test strips only, and the effects of its use were unexpected. Results from DAS testing (quantitative analysis) were found to contain:

Para-Fluorofentanyl (15.6%), Caffeine (52.1%), and Medetomidine (no percentage available). Bromazolam was found under DAS limit of reporting.

Para-Fluorfentanyl is considered to be up to 2 times stronger than fentanyl

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer approved only for use on animals. It is stronger than xylazine. This drug lasts longer, and the person may not wake up for a long time.

Caffeine is a stimulant normally found in coffee, and is often added to “down” samples. However, stimulants like caffeine DO NOT reverse the sedating and respiratory depression effects of opioids or tranquilizers.

Bromazolam is a high-potency, short-acting benzodiazepine.

This sample contained a mix of fentanyl analogues, an animal tranquilizer, and a benzodiazepine which can cause complex overdose/drug toxicity events that do not respond fully to naloxone. Using high-potency opioids in combination with benzodiazepine-like substances increases the risk of dangerous suppression of vitals (e.g., slowing down of breathing, blood pressure, heart rate). Naloxone cannot reverse the sedative effects of non-opioid substances such as Medetomidine.


If you use drugs:

Call 911 (or your local emer­gency response num­ber) if you wit­ness or expe­ri­ence an over­dose. The Good Samar­i­tan Over­dose Pro­tec­tion Act will pro­tect those involved from drug pos­ses­sion charges or breach of pro­ba­tion/pre-tri­al release charges.

  • Get nalox­one and over­dose train­ing before using – bring a friend
  • Be aware that ben­zo­di­azepines don’t respond to naloxone.
  • Do not use drugs alone or behind a locked door. Have a des­ig­nat­ed respon­der: Stag­ger use with friends so some­one can respond/​call 911 if needed. 
  • If you are using alone con­sid­er call­ing the Nation­al Over­dose Pre­ven­tion Hot­line at 1−888−688−6677, where you will be con­nect­ed to a safe con­sump­tion vol­un­teer who stays on the line for 15 – 30 min­utes while you use the substance.
  • Use a less direct route when you take drugs. Inject­ing a drug is the most direct and dan­ger­ous route. 
  • If you mix drugs, reduce the amount of each drug you take and use opi­oids before ben­zos or alco­hol. Use the most unpre­dictable drug first.
  • Use one drug at a time, test your drugs every time by doing a small­er than usu­al test amount first.
  • Wait before tak­ing anoth­er dose – some drugs take longer to take effect
  • The amount of nalox­one in a take-home kit may not be enough to reverse very pow­er­ful over­dos­es, such as those caused by fen­tanyl-like drugs.
  • If you inject do not share any injec­tion equip­ment (nee­dles, cook­ers, fil­ters, rinse). Ster­ile drug use sup­plies are avail­able from many places.