Montreal Public Health Sounds Alarm on Dangerous Counterfeit Cough Syrup
Montreal's public health department has issued an urgent warning to parents and teenagers about a counterfeit cough syrup circulating in the community that contains a deadly combination of substances. This illicit product has already been linked to a tragic overdose death involving a Laval teenager in November 2023.
Deadly Composition and Deceptive Packaging
The dangerous liquid contains protonitazene, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, along with benzodiazepine, a central nervous system depressant. What makes this product particularly treacherous is its deceptive packaging. The bottles feature labels that appear to be from the legitimate prescription-only cough syrup brand Wockhardt, falsely listing the contents as promethazine (an antihistamine) and codeine.
Public health officials emphasize that these bottles "look like they're from a pharmacy" but are completely illegitimate. The department has noted that different mixtures have been identified in containers that appear identical, creating unpredictable and potentially toxic combinations for anyone who consumes them.
Street Names and Teen Culture
This illicit syrup circulates under various street names including "lean," "purple drank," "Sizzurp," and "dirty sprite." The product has gained popularity within certain youth subcultures, sometimes mixed with sugary sodas like Mountain Dew and Sprite, with hard candies like Jolly Ranchers added to the mixture.
While Wockhardt cough syrup is not legally sold in Canada, bottles of the counterfeit version have been found available through online platforms like Etsy, and merchandise featuring the company's logo is sold on eBay under listings referencing the drug culture.
Recognizing Overdose Symptoms and Emergency Response
In response to this growing threat, Montreal public health has distributed fact sheets to medical professionals detailing how to recognize and respond to overdoses from this substance. Symptoms of overdose include:
- Difficulty breathing or complete cessation of breathing
- Snoring or no breathing sounds
- Little or no response to noise and pain stimuli
- Blue discoloration of lips and fingernails
- Constricted pupils
If left untreated, these symptoms can progress to cardiopulmonary arrest. Authorities stress that anyone suspecting an overdose should call 911 immediately. Treatment typically involves administering naloxone under medical supervision along with proper airway management.
Broader Context and Historical Warnings
This recent alert builds on previous Health Canada advisories about the risks of prescription cough and cold products containing codeine, hydrocodone, or normethadone in children and adolescents. In 2020, Health Canada specifically warned that such products are not intended for those under 18, noting that "the benefits of symptomatic treatment of cough associated with allergies or the common cold do not outweigh the risks of use of opioids in these patients."
The opioid protonitazene found in this counterfeit syrup has also appeared in other illicit drugs internationally. In June 2023, tested samples of counterfeit Xanax in Canberra, Australia, were found to contain protonitazene along with multiple depressants including diazepam (Valium), bromazolam, and alprazolam.
Montreal public health continues to monitor this dangerous trend and urges heightened community vigilance to prevent further tragedies among vulnerable youth populations.
