CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Known as 'blue heroin' or 'diz'

Police warning about new blue drug in city

Jan 21, 2021 | 11:54 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Two overdose calls for three people on Tuesday have the Medicine Hat Police Service warning about a new opioid-based drug that is in the city.

The drug is known as “blue heroin” or “diz,” say police. It is a bright, royal blue colour and may be sold in rock form.

“It looks like rock salt, blue rock salt if I had to describe it,” says Insp. Brent Secondiak.

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This is the first appearance of the drug in Medicine Hat. City police are working with partners across the province to find the source and identify the chemical makeup of the drug.

“We’re sending it to the Health Canada lab and that takes some time,” says Secondiak. “But the physical symptoms that we’ve seen in these three people have been quite overwhelming so it could be some new derivative of fentanyl or an opiate that we’re not aware of. So we’re quite concerned that users of opioids might take this with regular amounts and might overdose.”

Immediate medical attention was successful for the three people involved in the two calls.

“If you believe you see it or someone you know has it please give us a call and we can seize the drug,” urges Secondiak. “It could be quite potent or quite dangerous and we’re just concerned that somebody could die as a result of ingestion.”

If you or someone you know needs help with a substance addiction and would like assistance or information, contact Addiction and Mental Health – Community Services at 403-529-3500.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or submit at tip (anonymously if preferred) through the MHPS Mobile App. The MHPS mobile app is free and available to download for both Apple and Android devices by searching ‘Medicine Hat Police Service’ on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.