Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a very potent opioid used medically for severe pain and also found in Canada's illegal drug supply. Non-medical fentanyl use carries a high risk of overdose because potency and contamination can be unpredictable.
Category 01 — Opioids
Opioid use disorder may be treated with opioid agonist treatment.
For fentanyl, heroin and other opioid-related problems, a physician may consider Methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), or slow-release oral morphine (Kadian/SROM) when clinically appropriate.
Heroin
Heroin is an opioid made from morphine and is used non-medically. It can cause physical dependence and opioid use disorder, and overdose can be fatal, particularly when the illegal supply contains fentanyl or other potent opioids.
Broader pathway
Explore Opioid Addiction Treatment
Category 02 — Stimulants
Cocaine and methamphetamine require a separate clinical pathway.
TSCP does not present Methadone, Suboxone or Kadian as stimulant-use-disorder treatments. The appropriate next step starts with physician-led assessment and a treatment or referral plan based on verified services and individual needs.
Start an assessmentCocaine
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant; crack is a smokable form of cocaine. Repeated use can lead to a stimulant use disorder and can affect the heart, brain and mental state.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a powerful synthetic stimulant. It can lead to compulsive use, physical and mental health harms and stimulant use disorder.
Severe chest pain, seizure, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty or another acute reaction after drug use requires emergency medical care. Call 911.