Molly likely laced with fentanyl leads to 2 overdoses, 1 arrest

A 38-year-old Nova Scotiaman has been charged with drug trafficking after police say two men overdosed on a drug likely laced with fentanyl and needed the life-saving antidote naloxone.

RCMP said officers on patrol in Windsor came across a 20-year-old man in medical distress on Saturday, just before 2 a.m. While officers helped him, a 21-year-old man began showing similar symptoms.

Police said that based on their symptomswhich included vomiting, difficulty standing up and heavy sweatingthey believe the men were exposed to fentanyl in a dose of molly, a synthetic psychoactive drug the pair had taken. Molly is a nickname for MDMA.

Naloxone, a life-saving opioid antidote, was given to both men via nasal spray. Paramedics arrived and took them to the Hants Community Hospital. Both survived, police said.

"These two officers, with their quick action, most likely prevented an overdose [death] from happening that night to both of them," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dal Hutchinson.

Learning the 'hard way'

He said RCMP expect to see more cases of fentanyl overdoses.

"Given the fact that people still continue to make the choice to use non-prescription drugs and unfortunately in this day and age we're finding more and more becoming laced with fentanyl and other drugs that can kill you," said Hutchinson.

"You're getting something from a stranger, you don't know what's mixed with it. Unfortunately, in this case, two young men learned the hard way."

Fentanyl traces suspected in stolen truck

The 38-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday. He's since been released from custody on conditions and is scheduled back in Windsor provincial court on Sept. 19.

The overdoses come just three days before RCMP found what they believe are traces of fentanyl on a stolen vehicle in the Poplar Grove neighbourhood outside of Windsor.

Police ask that anyone with information about these incidents contact Windsor District RCMP at 902-798-2207 or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).