Health unit concerned that etizolam may be causing overdose deaths in area

Etizolam tablets. It was originally introduced in 1983 in Japan as a treatment for neurological conditions such as anxiety and sleep disorders.

By Kyle Ellington

BELLEVILLE – Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is warning people of a dangerous drug called etizolam which it says has caused overdoses in the city.

“The illicit drug supply has obtained this drug, I’m not sure where from but they have obtained it and the concern is that they are now cutting this drug into other illicit opioids,” said clinical services manager, Stephanie McFaul, of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

The drug itself isn’t approved by Health Canada or the US food and drug safety administration. But it’s available in other countries such as Italy, Japan and India where it’s used in clinical treatment. 

McFaul said that the cause for concern with etizolam is when you are mixing it with other opioids you don’t know the dose that you’re taking.

“You don’t know how much you’re getting and you don’t know what else is in that drug so the illicit opioids that are circulating on the streets.”

Signs of an opioid overdose include not being able to wake up easily or at all; breathing that can be slow or become erratic (in severe cases it can stop); fingernails turning purple or blue in colour; the body going limp; deep snoring or gurgling sounds; the pupils becoming very small and the skin can actually feel cold and clammy.

Etizolam produces very similar signs and symptoms in an overdose situation however the key thing here is etizolam doesn’t respond to naloxone. Naloxone is used to reduce the effects of an opioid overdose. 

“If you try using naloxone on an etizolam overdose that has been mixed with opioids it’s not going to work,” said McFaul.

McFaul said the health unit is not sure how often etizolam is involved with opioid overdoses in the area. 

“We don’t always have that information right away but we do have communications with our health care providers, EMS and other community service providers. If we suspect there is an overdose which may involve etizolam we’re working with our partners to have those drugs tested if possible so we can have a better idea of what is going on in our community,” she said.

McFaul said that they weren’t aware of etizolam at all until late last year when it came to the health unit’s attention after coming in from the Kingston region.

“Now because we have identified that there are examples inside our own local communities, it’s very important that residents are aware that there is a real risk and this is a new concern that we need people to be aware of and they need to know what to do if they experience an overdose,” McFaul said.