Toxic drug alert issued by Fort St. John RCMP following deaths

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A naloxone kit on a white background with pieces of the kit sticking out of a black bag. — Police officers are warning North Peace drug users about an increase in suspected opioid overdoses since the start of April. (Canva)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In the wake of three recent deaths believed to have been caused by overdoses, Fort St. John RCMP officers are warning of very toxic drugs circulating in and around the city,

The three deaths took place between April 3rd and April 9th, and officers at the scene believed the cause of death was consistent with opioid overdose.

“The Fort St John RCMP has recently come across a powerful synthetic opiate known as isotonitazene which was found in counterfeit oxycodone tablets and is as potent or more potent than fentanyl,” an April 10th press release from the detachment reads.

“On March 27th, 2025, Northern Health put out a drug advisory for the entire Northern Health region highlighting round white pills sold as ‘oxycocet’ which contain the same isotonitazene.”

That drug advisory is about to expire, as of publication time. Isotonitazene doesn’t show up on fentanyl test strips, and because of the way counterfeit pills are made, the potency of a given dose can vary wildly, making it extremely dangerous.

“The pills are like making chocolate chip cookies,” explains constable Chad Neustater. “Some cookies have six chocolate chips, others have 16, which, when it comes to fentanyl or synthetic opiates, can be fatal.”

RCMP officers are reminding drug users in the region to never take drugs alone and to carry naloxone kits, which are freely available at various clinics and the Salvation Army.

Overdose prevention services are available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Fort St. John Overdose Prevention Site at 10067 100th Ave.

More information on how to use drugs like these safely can be found on the Northern Health website.