Montreal health officials alert to spike in fentanyl and carfentanil overdoses

Montreal's regional public health department has warned of a sharp increase in overdoses involving fentanyl and the highly potent synthetic opioid carfentanil. Paramedics have administered naloxone more than 925 times since the start of the year, a level 25 times higher than the total for all of 2025. Eight deaths linked to carfentanil have been recorded since April 9; the drug is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl, with a lethal dose smaller than a grain of salt.

Dr. David Kaiser, deputy medical director of the department, urged people who use drugs not to use alone, to carry naloxone and to intervene if they see someone struggling to breathe or unresponsive, calling 911 and administering naloxone if available.