Police in the western city of Saskatoon suspect fake OxyContin, a brand name for the pain killer Oxycodone, in the deaths of two men in their 20s
Photo Credit: CBC

Counterfeit drug may have caused two deaths

Two men who died of drug overdoses recently may have taken counterfeit OxyContin containing deadly ingredients, say police in the western city of Saskatoon. Police are warning the public that illicit drug use is potentially dangerous.In particular there have been offical warnings about fake OxyContin containing another narcotic, fentanyl, that can increase the risk of overdose.

The two men, in their 20s, died one day apart and were known to each other. During their on-going investigation police found pills that resembled the drug OxyContin 80. The pills were described as round convex in shape, blue/green in colour with the number 80 stamped on one side and the letters CDN on the other.

Genuine OxyContin is the brand name of a powerful pain killer known as Oxycodone and only officially available through a doctor’s prescription. It is an opioid that is addictive and has been widely abused in Canada.

A number of agencies are investigating this case, including police and the office of the coroner for the province of Saskatchewan.

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