There is deep concern about the theft of potent fentynal patches stolen Thursday from a drug store at Church and Queen Streets. The fentynal is said to be more potent than heroin and police are especially concerned that it could fall into the hands of children. As many as 100 of the potentially deadly patches were taken, stolen for their opioid pain reliever. The Toronto Sun says that fentanyl has been linked to recent fatal overdoses in the GTA. The drug is also behind a recent spike in overdose deaths in Western Canada. There were 14 to 20 boxes, each containing five fentanyl skin patches, stolen. Police say the drug is used by addicts who scrape or otherwise extract the active material from the patches and inject it or mix it with other substances. The Toronto Police drug squad recently warned the public about the growing fentanyl problem, both with patches and the mixing of its powdered form with other drugs, such as cocaine and Oxycontin
