Drug Alert: Winnipeg – Fentanyl – Tue. May 5, 2026

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026


Location: Winnipeg


Substance Sold As: Fentanyl


Visual Description: Yellow chunk

Yellow chunk sold as fentanyl found to contain carfentanil, fentanyl and medetomodine.

Sent for confirmatory testing on April 8 after test strips at Street Connections detected fentanyl and medetomidine. Participant reported nausea, vomiting, shaking and sweating from use.



Carfentanil is up to 100x more potent than fentanyl, and a tiny amount can cause an overdose. Combining opioids with sedatives like medetomidine increases the risk of complex overdose.

Confirmatory testing at Health Canada Drug Analysis Service results:

  • Medetomidine (2.31%)
  • Caffeine (10.8%)
  • Mannitol (52.9%)
  • Dimethyl sulfone (13.9%)
  • Carfentanil, fentanyl, and three additional fentanyl precursors. No quantities reported due to the presence of precursors or byproducts of fentanyl. 

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer currently found in the local drug supply. It is stronger than xylazine and is only approved for use on animals. It decreases a person’s heart rate.

Combining sedatives with opioids like fentanyl increases the risk of a complex overdose.

Naloxone does not work on non-opioid substances such as medetomidine. You should still give naloxone in cases of overdose, since medetomidine samples usually contain opioids as well.

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If you are using substances, please:


* Use with a friend and stagger your use 


* Start low and go slow


* Have and know how to use naloxone

If you are using alone, consider calling a friend or the NORS line at 1-888-688-NORS so they can spot you.

Get your drugs checked:


Nine Circles, Tu/W/Th, 10am-4pm, parking lot door of 705 Broadway Ave

Street Connections, M/W/F, 8:30am-3:30pm, 496 Hargrave St
Mobile Overdose Prevention Site (MOPS) — W/T/F/S/S, 12-5PM in the parking lot beside 631 Main St.

If you are experiencing grief from losing loved ones to drug toxicity, please know you are not alone. If you need to talk to someone, please call the crisis line at Klinic: 204-786-8686 or toll free 1-888-322-3019

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