Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Health Canada Imposes Ban On Powerful Street Drug Known As W-18

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Jun, 2016 01:14 PM
    OTTAWA — Health Canada is banning the powerful street drug W-18, which it says can be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
     
     
    The synthetic opioid is being added to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and classed as a restricted drug under federal regulations.
     
    That means production, possession, importation or exportation and trafficking of the drug are now illegal.
     
    The department says W-18 has been used recreationally in Europe and Canada over the last two years.
     
    It says Canadian police have seized samples that were made to look like legitimate prescription tablets, such as oxycodone.
     
    The W-18 compound was developed in the 1980s as a potential pain reliever, but it was never marketed commercially and has no legitimate use, authorities say.
     
    "Synthetic, street-level opioids are extremely dangerous since they are often mixed with or disguised as other drugs prone to abuse, such as oxycodone or heroin," the department said in a news release.
     
    "When abused, they can cause serious injury and death."
     
    Health Minister Jane Philpott welcomed the ban.
     
    "Substances like W-18 are dangerous and have a significant negative impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our society," she said in a statement.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Wildrose Suspends MLA From Caucus Over His Comment On Twitter Insult To Kathleen Wynne

    Wildrose Suspends MLA From Caucus Over His Comment On Twitter Insult To Kathleen Wynne
    A brouhaha over comments made about Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne in the Alberta legislature continued to escalate Friday with the Opposition Wildrose party suspending the MLA who made them.

    Wildrose Suspends MLA From Caucus Over His Comment On Twitter Insult To Kathleen Wynne

    Conservatives Nix Push To Make Rona Ambrose Eligible For Permanent Leadership

    VANCOUVER — Emotions ran high at the Conservative convention on Friday as delegates sparred over party policies and politics.

    Conservatives Nix Push To Make Rona Ambrose Eligible For Permanent Leadership

    Elbows Down: Tory Whip Says Time To Move Past Incident In The House

    Elbows Down: Tory Whip Says Time To Move Past Incident In The House
    VANCOUVER — Conservative whip Gord Brown says he hopes cooler heads will prevail when the House of Commons returns on Monday.

    Elbows Down: Tory Whip Says Time To Move Past Incident In The House

    Conservatives Set To Vote On Dropping Same Sex Marriage Ban From Policy

    Conservatives Set To Vote On Dropping Same Sex Marriage Ban From Policy
    Those meetings saw divisions emerge among some Conservatives over issues such as assisted dying and marijuana as well as gay marriage.  

    Conservatives Set To Vote On Dropping Same Sex Marriage Ban From Policy

    Alberta Hostage Taker Poses Risk On Release If Not Monitored: Parole Board

    Alberta Hostage Taker Poses Risk On Release If Not Monitored: Parole Board
    Patrick Clayton, 45, is scheduled for mandatory release on June 12, but the parole board recommends the new condition in addition to the others he's been under while on day parole.

    Alberta Hostage Taker Poses Risk On Release If Not Monitored: Parole Board

    Maple Batalia Murder: Gursimar Bedi Found Guilty Of Accessory But Not Guilty Of Manslaughter

    Maple Batalia Murder: Gursimar Bedi Found Guilty Of Accessory But Not Guilty Of Manslaughter
    Gursimar Singh Bedi, a co-accused in Maple Batalia murder case has been found not guilty of manslaughter

    Maple Batalia Murder: Gursimar Bedi Found Guilty Of Accessory But Not Guilty Of Manslaughter