Latest news with #Savinkoff
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Calgary Herald
Alberta RCMP warns of deadly fake Xanax pills after death of 16-year-old in Edmonton area
Article content Alberta RCMP has issued a province-wide warning about a potentially deadly supply of illegal opiates disguised as the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, after the death of a 16-year-old male in the Edmonton area. Article content The teen's death is under investigation, and while the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will ultimately determine the cause, RCMP said the circumstances surrounding the case prompted the force to act swiftly. Article content Article content Article content 'Some of this substance was located with the deceased,' said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, acting Alberta RCMP media relations manager. 'It's enough for RCMP to strongly believe that this was a strong potential cause of the death, and it's enough for us to have concern, to want to immediately communicate our concern.' Article content RCMP believe the counterfeit pill involved in the teen's death was obtained in Edmonton, and that the drug 'could very quickly make its way across the province.' Article content According to RCMP, the counterfeit pills mimic the appearance of Xanax but are grey instead of white, and they contain isotonitazene, a highly potent synthetic opioid which Savinkoff noted as 'a great concern' because it's 'very easy to overdose and cause death.' Article content Article content Savinkoff said the public alert was necessary to prevent further harm. Article content Article content 'Parents, relatives, and other community members need to share this information as much as possible, and especially so now that school is out,' he said. Article content Article content The Alberta RCMP is urging the public to avoid taking any medication not prescribed by a licensed pharmacist. Article content 'It's a given that drugs should not be obtained if you don't have a prescription. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They're dangerous,' Savinkoff said. 'And if you don't have a prescription and you don't know where the drug came from, there's always going to be risk.' Article content
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Alberta RCMP warns of deadly counterfeit pills after death of 16-year-old in Edmonton area
Alberta RCMP has issued a province-wide warning about a potentially deadly supply of illegal opiates disguised as the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, after the death of a 16-year-old male in the Edmonton area. Article content The teen's death is under investigation, and while the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will ultimately determine the cause, RCMP said the circumstances surrounding the case prompted the force to act swiftly. Article content Article content Article content 'Some of this substance was located with the deceased,' said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, acting Alberta RCMP media relations manager. 'It's enough for RCMP to strongly believe that this was a strong potential cause of the death, and it's enough for us to have concern, to want to immediately communicate our concern.' Article content RCMP believe the counterfeit pill involved in the teen's death was obtained in Edmonton, and that the drug 'could very quickly make its way across the province.' Article content According to RCMP, the counterfeit pills mimic the appearance of Xanax but are grey instead of white, and they contain isotonitazene, a highly potent synthetic opioid which Savinkoff noted as 'a great concern' because it's 'very easy to overdose and cause death.' Article content The pills are rectangular, have the word ONAX stamped on one side, and a vertical '2' on the other. Article content Article content Article content Article content Savinkoff said the public alert was necessary to prevent further harm. Article content Article content 'Parents, relatives, and other community members need to share this information as much as possible, and especially so now that school is out,' he said. Article content Article content The Alberta RCMP is urging the public to avoid taking any medication not prescribed by a licensed pharmacist. Article content 'It's a given that drugs should not be obtained if you don't have a prescription. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They're dangerous,' Savinkoff said. 'And if you don't have a prescription and you don't know where the drug came from, there's always going to be risk.' Article content
Global News
3 days ago
- Global News
Alberta RCMP issue warning about opioid-laced drugs after teenager's death
Alberta RCMP have issued a warning to parents, children and other members of the public about some potentially deadly counterfeit pills that may be circulating in the province. The pills resemble a commonly used drug to treat anxiety, but may be laced with a potentially fatal dose of opioids. The warning comes following the death of a 16-year-old that police believe may be related to ingestion of the imitation pills. The legal medicine, Xanax, is normally available by prescription. However, investigators have identified replica pills laced with the highly potent opioid isotonitazene. Investigators have also released photos of the counterfeit pills to the public. 'Parents, relatives, and other community members need to share this information as much as possible, and especially so now that school is out,' RCMP public information officer Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said. 'It is important that the public knows the extreme danger that this dangerous replica can pose.' Story continues below advertisement Investigators are working to identify the source of the deadly drugs and stop their distribution. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In the meantime, Savinkoff said it is important that members of the community see the photos of the drugs, share them with their kids, friends and relatives and 'let them know that these pills could kill them.' The RCMP have released photos of the counterfeit drugs in an attempt to inform the public about 'the extreme danger' they pose. Alberta RCMP The pills are described as grey, rectangular, and stamped with the letters ONAX on one side and the number '2' on the other. Savinkoff said prescriptions should only be purchased from a reputable, licensed pharmacist. On Monday the Edmonton police also issued a warning about counterfeit Xanax pills, following a seizure in June of similar pills laced with the same highly potent opioid isotonitazene. The street value of those drugs was estimated at nearly $5,000. Story continues below advertisement On Monday, Edmonton Police also issued a warning about fake pills made to look like the anti-anxiety drug Xanax but contain a potentially deadly dose of the opioid isotonitazene. Edmonton Police Service The RCMP is asking anyone with information about the counterfeit drugs to call their local police department or the RCMP at 310-7267 (RCMP).
Global News
10-07-2025
- Global News
Alberta RCMP investigate fatal collision near Irricana
Alberta RCMP is investigating a crash about 63 kilometers northeast of Calgary that left one person dead and several others injured on Saturday. Police were called to Highway 9 around 6 p.m. on July 5, just south of Irricana near Highway 567 for reports of a collision between a Ford Mustang and a Dodge 3500 pickup truck. Upon arrival, police say they found a 51-year-old Strathmore man dead inside the Mustang. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to police, initial reports indicated that the 16-year-old female driver of the pickup truck had swerved into oncoming traffic, hitting the Mustang head-on. According to police, there were four people in the truck at the time of the crash. All suffered non-life-threatening injuries; at least one of the passengers was taken to hospital. RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said there were several fatal crashes on Alberta roads over the weekend and called these types of collisions tragic. Story continues below advertisement 'Almost all fatal collisions and serious collisions are avoidable. As we get the summer days, there's a lot more traffic out there (and) we all need to just make sure we're taking our time, that we're patient, follow the laws and try to keep these fatalities down as much as we can,' says Savinkoff. No charges have been laid and no charges are pending in the Highway 9 crash. RCMP said they are still in the early stages of the investigation and are working to determine whether impairment was a factor in the crash.
Global News
06-06-2025
- Global News
RCMP take steps to combat thieves targeting Alberta's evacuated communities
First, Yellowhead County Mayor Wade Williams was worried the hamlet of Peers, Alta., would go up in flames, and then he was alarmed to learn someone had stolen fire equipment. 'It is ridiculous and blows my mind that someone would come here and steal equipment that was laid out to save lives and homes,' Williams said. Williams said the thief targeted water pumps. 'For anyone who would loot in an evacuated area, we need stiffer penalties.' The province of Alberta said it is aware of this situation, and notes that it wasn't aware of any other incidents. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a statement to Global News, the Alberta government said, 'The alleged theft of fire equipment is utterly unacceptable and profoundly alarming, as it directly jeopardizes public safety during a vital period for Albertans while they're in crisis and places fire personnel in grave unnecessary danger.' Story continues below advertisement In May, RCMP arrested a man for tampering with sprinklers while the Redwater area was evacuated. Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said to combat this, police officers patrol empty areas 24/7. They have also started using drones. 'This year, we are finding it extremely helpful and successful, when you have an evacuated area and have (this) asset,' Savinkoff said. 'You can cover off a lot of area. It's very easy to see suspicious behaviour with those drones.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You can cover off a lot of area. It's very easy to see suspicious behaviour with those drones." Savinkoff said many of the thieves who target these areas are repeat offenders. 'They're potentially finding ways in or not everybody evacuates, so it becomes an issue of managing the people that chose to remain in the community.' As there are more evacuation order issues, Savinkoff stresses Mounties will continue to patrol these areas with both uniform and non-uniform officers.
