Saturday, June 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

Health Canada Acknowledges Lack Of Data About Potency, Classification Of W-18

The Canadian Press, 14 Jun, 2016 12:16 PM
    VANCOUVER — Health Canada has taken a step back from its claims that W-18 is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, now acknowledging more research is needed.
     
    Police and health officials have issued several warnings about what they say is an extremely dangerous drug.
     
    Now Health Canada has issued a statement clarifying its position on W-18 after experts questioned widely-circulated assertions about the substance's potency and classification last week.
     
    Health Canada says it referred to W-18 as a synthetic opioid to align with credible sources including the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse, and because the limited scientific information available compared it to morphine.
     
    But it acknowledges doubts have been raised recently about the classification, noting that it has not been determined whether W-18 is an opioid, even though it's been reported to be 10,000 times more powerful than morphine.
     
    Health Canada says it carefully considered a number of factors before banning W-18 on June 1, and the available data suggests a potentially severe risk for harm from the drug.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Feds Offer 'No Drone Zone' Signs To Shoo Drone Operators Away From Airports

    Feds Offer 'No Drone Zone' Signs To Shoo Drone Operators Away From Airports
    OTTAWA — The federal government is hoping its new 'No Drone Zone' signs will shoo operators of unmanned aerial vehicles away from airports and commercial air traffic.

    Feds Offer 'No Drone Zone' Signs To Shoo Drone Operators Away From Airports

    OECD lauds Ottawa's Approach To Boosting Economy; Raises Concerns Over Housing

    OECD lauds Ottawa's Approach To Boosting Economy; Raises Concerns Over Housing
    MONTREAL — Canada got a pat on the back from the OECD for trying to boost economic growth through infrastructure spending, but the international economic think-tank said more action is needed to address overheating in major pockets of the housing market.

    OECD lauds Ottawa's Approach To Boosting Economy; Raises Concerns Over Housing

    Frustration Over Health Disclosure Doesn't Trump Privacy Protection: Experts

    Frustration Over Health Disclosure Doesn't Trump Privacy Protection: Experts
    HALIFAX — It's a quandry for health care professionals that has caught the attention of experts across the country: should family members and loved ones be told about a patient's struggle with mental health issues?

    Frustration Over Health Disclosure Doesn't Trump Privacy Protection: Experts

    One Down One To Go, Zoo Officials Recapture One Of Two Missing Capybaras

    One Down One To Go, Zoo Officials Recapture One Of Two Missing Capybaras
    TORONTO — One of two large rodents that escaped a Toronto zoo has been rounded up.

    One Down One To Go, Zoo Officials Recapture One Of Two Missing Capybaras

    Police Say Drone That Got Too Close To Plane Was Bigger And Higher Than Normal

    WINNIPEG — Authorities in Winnipeg are investigating a close encounter between a passenger plane and a drone that police say was bigger and higher up than unmanned air vehicles normally fly.

    Police Say Drone That Got Too Close To Plane Was Bigger And Higher Than Normal

    Jury To Disregard Accused's Theory In Tim Bosma Murder Trial: Judge

    Jury To Disregard Accused's Theory In Tim Bosma Murder Trial: Judge
    HAMILTON — An Ontario judge has told jurors to disregard portions of an accused's version of events in the trial of two men alleged to have killed a stranger who took them out for a test drive in his pickup truck.

    Jury To Disregard Accused's Theory In Tim Bosma Murder Trial: Judge