**** NSHA Media Release
DrugAlert for January 10, 2023:
NSHA have received a report from a community partner that a substance sold as yellow Xanax bars may have been tainted with fentanyl in the Halifax area. The individual was told they were fake, pressed yellow Xanax bars.
Individual ingested the substance and reported they experienced a much more severe reaction than in the past with other benzodiazepines. Individual believes that it possibly contained fentanyl.
Harm reduction information:
• Don’t use alone, if possible. Keep a distance of 2 meters and respect public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 if using substances with others.
o Overdose Prevention Sites support harm reduction by providing equipment and a safe and caring space for people to use drugs. These sites are equipped to respond to overdoses and connect people to important health and social services.
– ReFIX Halifax Overdose Prevention Site, Address: 2107 Brunswick St. Halifax; Phone: 902-209-9370
– PeerSix Overdose Prevention Site, Address: 75 Prince St. Sydney; Phone: 902-567-1766
o If you are using alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) phone line at 1-888-688-NORS. It is a 24/7 phone line available for anyone in Canada to call and the operator will “spot” you while you use. For more information visit www.nors.ca.
o Alternatively, call a trusted support person and let them know you are using alone and provide them with your location.
• Start with a test dose. Start low, go slow.
• Have naloxone available, even if you aren’t intentionally using opioids. Although naloxone only works to reverse opioid overdoses, there is no harm in administering it if you are unsure what kind of overdose you are witnessing. Naloxone is available for free from most community pharmacies and other community locations, including needle distribution and disposal organizations. For more information about where to get a free naloxone kit and how to use it, visit http://www.nsnaloxone.com/
• Call 911 in the event of an overdose. Know your rights under the Good Samaritan Act – http://www.nsnaloxone.com/good-samaritan-act.html
