Meanwhile, the federal government this week removed hurdles to opening new drug consumption rooms – as demand skyrocketed – and expanded its fight against narcotics trafficking at the border.
Its revamp of drug laws is expected to pave the way for at least nine new drug consumption sites – known in Canada as “supervised injection sites” – across the nation, and more customs searches for fentanyl.
The first North American consumption rooms were established the only facility on the continent where addicts can receive medical supervision as they inject heroine illegally bought on the street.
The clinic was established in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in 2003 under a special exemption from federal drug possession and trafficking laws.
Ottawa also recently restricted six chemicals used to make fentanyl and partnered with China to stem its flow into the country from abroad.
Highly potent and addictive, the analgesic fentanyl is estimated to be up to 100 times stronger than morphine. The related drug carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.
Two milligrams of pure fentanyl, the size of about four grains of salt, is enough to kill an average-size adult.

Pills seized from the home of singer Prince contained the dangerously powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl but were mislabelled

Fentanyl is an extremely strong painkiller, prescribed for severe chronic pain, or breakthrough pain which doesn’t respond to regular painkillers.
It is an opioid painkiller which means it works by mimicking the body’s natural painkillers, called endorphins, which block pain messages to the brain.
It can cause dangerous side effects, including severe breathing problems. The risk of harm is higher if the wrong dose or strength is used.
In April, the late  singer Prince died of an accidental overdose of the dangerously powerful synthetic drug.