FARGO - It's 100 times more potent than Fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
It's called W-18 and has been found in parts of Canada and the United States.
With communities across the area going through a drug epidemic - some say it's now time to be on the lookout for W-18.
Its strength is staggering.
"Our message to the public is this: no matter what drug you use, fentanyl or W-18 may be hiding in it, and it may kill you,” said Dr. Laura Calhoun of Alberta Health Services.
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First seen at a Canadian drug bust, it could be the next drug craze.
Many say with it already being found in Canada, it's only a matter of time before it's found in our streets.
"There's always a demand for those drugs here. Someone is always supplying it, and always a high demand And if it's in Canada, it's gonna get here before it gets to Texas,” said Ryan Tetzloff, a concerned citizen.
Originally made in the '80s, it was supposed to be a less addictive painkiller, but pharmaceutical companies wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.
"We have more stuff coming in, that is not good. That is not good," Tetzloff said.
One of the main problems with the drug, it's not illegal in the U.S. or Canada and can't be detected in drug tests.
"I don't know, I don't have a plan to stop this, but I really think we need to start educating kids on this,” Tetzloff said.
A new drug not yet in our area, that could plunge the community deeper in addiction.
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Canadian officials are working to make the drug illegal.
No word as to when that might happen in the U.S.
