These counsellors say naloxone is becoming less effective because of the potent drug 'tranq'

Many people know naloxone as the life-saving opioid overdose reversing drug. But increasingly, that's not enough, thanks to a new drug on the streets, two drug counsellors say.

Tim Baxter works with the addictions counselling non-profit Crossroads in Windsor, Ont.

He says use of naloxone kits has grown sharply, but a non-opioid drug is posing a challenge.

"We're hearing reports of a drug called 'tranq,' Baxter says.

"It's mixed, with mostly fentanyl, and the impact of that is it makes naloxone less than effective."

WATCH |More street drugs being laced with toxic animal tranquillizer:

More street drugs being laced with toxic animal tranquillizer

2 years ago

Duration 2:38

A dangerous animal tranquillizer called xylazine is increasingly finding its way into the illegal drug supply, Health Canada data shows. The drug can cause serious side effects and is resistant to naloxone, the fast-acting medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.

'Tranq' is a severely potent veterinary sedative that is being cutwith opioids like fentanyl to prolong their effects. Because naloxone works on opioids but not other types of drugs, it might not be as effective on drugs that are mixed.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reverses effects of the drug and can stop an overdose but it isn't a substitute for medical care, and people who have received it are encouraged to go to the hospital.

Baxter says he believes some users also treat naloxone as a way to take more of the substance they're using.

"I'm hearing that a lot of people are using them as a way to, if they have too much or if the drug's too strong, to make sure that that doesn't injure them, instead of as a lifesaving method," he said.

"It discourages me that people want to get that much impact from their drug of choice that they're using that kind of methodology to overcome that."

But while naloxone has its limitations, Baxter says there's little other alternative.

He says his schedule is more packed than ever with people seeking treatment.

"We don't have another drug out there [like naloxone] that's going to do that."

"I'm sure they're working on it, but every day there's more and more people out there that are struggling with this drug use."

Built up naloxone resistance, more kits distributed

It's something Dan Loiselle has seen first hand. As a chemical dependency counsellor with Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor, Ont., Loiselle trains clients, patients, staff and even family members how to use naloxone kits.

Loiselle says he's handing out more kits than ever before. In the last six weeks, his team has distributed 60, he says and 96 for the last quarter of the year. In comparison, this time last year, he says, they had given out only 19.

"It may be the type of drugs that are being used, more people have to use Narcan or naloxone more often," he said.

"More people are becoming aware of it and are open to taking a kit and having one."

But people can also build up a resistance to it, according to Baxter, requiring more doses especially depending on how much of the substance is ingested.

Loiselle urges people to visit their local pharmacy to ask for a naloxone kit.

Even if you aren't someone who uses substances, he says, it's a good thing to have in your house to help someone else.

"A lot of our clients we offer the naloxone to regardless of what their substance use is."

"People abusing substances that could be as simple as mom, dad, grandma, grandpa at home that are on pain medications and accidentally take too many of them."