With the recent discovery of carfentanil in Estevan and how much we've been talking about the drug in the last week, it's important we understand we're dealing with, and since it's been a bit of an epidemic in Canada in the last year, all it takes is a little research.

For starters, there is a major difference between fentanyl and carfentanil, though the two are very similar. 

Fentanyl was originally created to be used to suppress pain in cancer victims and certain surgeries, and only recently became available to the public from over the counter prescriptions typically in the form of lozenges or lollipops, it's estimated to be somewhere around 100 times more potent then morphine, and when not used in the prescribed manner can put a person in cardiac arrest and kill them.

Carfentanil however is a much cheaper, much more potent version of fentanyl that's sometimes used as a tranquilizer for large animals. 

It's estimated about 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. 

The major problem with these drugs is that while both being commercially used, the withdrawal affects from these according to former users of the drug are nothing like they have ever experienced, and that's why police all over the country have started carrying nalxone kits.

And even with naloxone, time is very limited to save the life of someone suffering from an overdose. 

A dose as small as a grain of salt or sand is all it takes to be lethal, and it can be hard to spot since it's a versatile drug that can come in many forms. 

So do yourself a favour, stay safe, stay away, and if you or anyone you know is suffering from an addiction of any kind, seek the right help. 

If you're struggling with addiction, you can call Saskatchewan's HealthLine at 811 or 1-877-800-0002.

For more information on the situation here in Estevan, head over to these stories at discoverestevan.com.