Cocaine identified as lead drug responsible for overdose deaths in the province

The RCMP is warning drug users of the dangers of using cocaine. Several recent seizures in this province have determined that current street-level quantities of cocaine are of an extremely high potency.

Cocaine is currently the leading drug causing overdose deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador.

There has been an increase in both cocaine and fentanyl related toxicity deaths since 2023.

Between 2023 and 2024, there were 158 toxicity deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador. Of those, 87 percent were accidental deaths. 49 percent of these deaths involved cocaine alone, while 18 percent of these deaths involved fentanyl and/or analogs of fentanyl alone. In the remaining deaths, a number of other drugs were detected, including other stimulants such as methylphenidate, ecstasy, and amphetamines, other opioids such as morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, as well as various Benzodiazepines.

RCMP Federal Policing Eastern Region has seen a dramatic increase in the purity of street-level cocaine seized in the province, noting recent purity levels between 94-96 percent. “Up until about 2-3 years ago, cocaine seized at the street-level in the province was on average 15-20 percent pure. said Inspector David Emberley of RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region. In the last couple of years, this purity level has risen to an average of over 90 percent purity, which can easily result in overdose and death. Unfortunately, many people have a cavalier attitude towards cocaine use and are likely not aware of its fatal impacts.”