RCMP issue provincewide alert about fake pill suspected in death of Edmonton-area teen

Alberta RCMP have issued a provincewide alert after a powerful and uncommon opioid meant to replicate a well-known prescription drug was strongly suspected of killing an Edmonton-area teenager.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff confirmed a 16-year-old boy was found dead with a piece of the replica drug in the Edmonton region from an apparent overdose in early July.

Savinkoff said the pill was made to look like the recognizable anti-anxiety medication called Xanax, but in reality it was actually isotonitazene — a rare and highly potent opioid drug.

RCMP are warning the public to be on the lookout for other potentially deadly replica pills.

"This type of [opioid] has such a risk and potential lethality that I think it's something that we as police really want to get on top of quickly and inform the public … and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the province."

'Hugely problematic'

Savinkoff stated the pills have only been found in the Edmonton area currently. In June, Edmonton police intercepted a package containing several hundred fake Xanax pills containing isotonitazene.

Savinkoff said that drugs often come into major centres like Edmonton and can be quickly trafficked to other parts of the province. 

In an RCMP news release, the replica pills were described as grey, rectangular shape and imprinted with the letters "ONAX" on one side and the number "2" on the other. 

An opioid drug disguised as a non-opioid drug like Xanax is uncommon and highly concerning, said Richelle Booker, a forensic pharmacologist with Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams.

"To mix between drug classes like this is highly unusual. To see an opioid pressed to resemble a sedative, I haven't seen that very often," said Booker. "It's hugely problematic because people who are expecting a drug such as Xanax are not likely to be prepared for a highly potent opioid like isotonitazene."

Not intended for human use

Booker said isotonitazene began to appear on the unregulated drug market in Canada in 2019. She noted this form of opioid is particularly dangerous because — unlike more common opioids like fentanyl — there is a significant lack of clinical evaluation of isotonitazene.

"It has never been clinically evaluated for use in humans. It's not intended to be used in humans. It isn't used anywhere in the world clinically in humans. So there's a lot of unknowns in terms of how this drug will behave when it's used by people," Booker said.

Booker said there is "absolutely no way to use [isotonitazene] safely and there is no known safe dose of isotonitazene."

Savinkoff said a quick conversation between a parent and their child about this fake drug could prevent more young Albertans from potentially lethal overdosing on isotonitazene.

"Even if you don't believe your kid would do it, still have that conversation. Just quickly show them the photo [of the replica pill] and tell them about the risk. Just that quick 15-second conversation could save their lives."