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Para-Fluorofentanyl, Medetomidine, and Benzodiazepines in Sample tested at Street Connections
December 17, 2025

A brown/burgundy powder believed to be “down” was tested at Street Connections on November 28, 2025. The participant believed the sample may have been linked to an opioid associated, life-threatening emergency that required ten doses of naloxone administered over the span of two hours before the person regained consciousness. 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 (22.1%), Ethylflualprazolam (3.32%), Ethylbromozalam (2.71%) Medetomidine (1.33%), Caffeine (58%) and Fluoro 4-ANPP (no percentage available).

Para-Fluorofentanyl is considered to be similar in potency and effect as fentanyl.

Ethylflualprazolam - A high-potency benzodiazepine-related drug, similar to alprazolam (Xanax).

Ethylbromozalam - A high-potency benzodiazepine-related drug. A research chemical benzodiazepine substance that has limited history of human usage.

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. This substance causes central nervous system depression, which decreases a person’s heart rate.

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.

Fluoro 4-ANPP – A precursor, or intermediate substance, used in the synthesis of para-fluorofentanyl, and considered an impurity.

This sample contained an unusual high concentration of Para-Fluorofentanyl when compared to other complex samples tested by DAS.

This sample contained a mix of fentanyl analogues, an animal tranquilizer, and benzodiazepines, 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, and tranquilizers, increases the risk of dangerous suppression of vitals (e.g., slowing down of breathing, blood pressure, heart rate). Naloxone cannot reverse the sedating effects of non-opioid substances such as Medetomidine and benzodiazepines.

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 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, consider calling the National Overdose Response Service 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 8:30 am-3:30 pmat 496 Hargrave (closed from 12-1pm)
Nine Circles: tues/wed/thurs 10:00 am-4:00 pm at 705 Broadway






Carfentanil and Cocaine Drug Alert – Thompson, Manitoba
November 21, 2025

A sample of a peach crystalline powder seized by law enforcement and tested by DAS on October 15, 2025 contained a dangerous mixture of Carfentanil, Cocaine, and Phenacetin.

Carfentanil and Cocaine are very different substances. Carfentanil increases the risk of dangerous suppression of vitals (e.g., slowing down of breathing, blood pressure, heart rate); while cocaine produces stimulant effects. Carfentanil responds to naloxone, but it may require more doses than expected.

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid about 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The presence of carfentanil in the unregulated drug supply is cause for concern.

Phenacetin is a discontinued drug used mainly for pain relief or fever reduction. It was removed from market because of its dangerous side effects related to kidney damage.

Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service (DAS) test illegal drugs seized by Canadian law enforcement agencies. 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 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, consider calling the National Overdose Response Service 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 8:30 am-3:30 pmat 496 Hargrave (closed from 12-1pm)
Nine Circles: tues/wed/thurs 10:00 am-4:00 pm at 705 Broadway



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.