W-18 drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl, says Calgary police

Calgary police say a new drug 100times more toxicthan fentanyl is likely available on city streets.

Police seized a single sample of W-18late last year, said Staff Sgt.Jason Walker.

"And I can guarantee you, there's got to be more out there. We just haven't seen it yet."

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Fentanyl deaths

The seizure comes as Calgary policestruggle to deal withthe prevalence of fentanyl, an opioidup to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

According to Alberta Health Services, there were 213deaths fentanylrelated deaths in Albertain 2015.Seventy-four of those deaths occurredin Calgary between January and September of last year.

To date, there are no known deaths related to W-18, but its presence can be difficult to detect.

"They kind of have to know what they're testing for in order to run the proper tests and have a sample to compare it to," Walker said abouttoxicology tests.

Organized criminals 'not pharmacologists'

Walker adds that only certain labs are able to test for W-18, and there's a chance the drug isbeingmixed into illegal doses of fentanyl, eitherintentionally or otherwise.

"There's no oversight with these illicit drug labs," Walker said.

"These organized criminals that are producing these things.... They're not pharmacologists. These are not industrial standards. They're in someone's basement with a pill pressmixing powders."