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By Canadian Press

Opioid levels spike in Alberta wastewater samples

Aug 30, 2023 | 4:28 PM

CALGARY – Researchers monitoring Alberta wastewater say the amount of opioids and other illicit drugs it contained jumped in June.

Wastewater is tested weekly at six sites throughout the province as part of a pilot by the Cumming School of Medicine and the Calgary Health Foundation that ends this fall.

Addictions specialist Dr. Monty Ghosh says the levels for opioids, such as carfentanil, were four times higher than the month before.

He says it could be an indication of a new cocktail of the deadly drug entering the market and that wastewater can act as an early-warning system.

Ghosh says opioid use is a public health epidemic and he’s lost too many patients to the drug over the years.

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He shared the data with his network but thinks emergency responders, health-care providers and government officials could also benefit.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2023.

The Canadian Press