![Dangerous drug supply increases risks](https://cdn.magzter.com/1704825715/1718348992/articles/Y3U_Lo7S11718352057710/DANGEROUS-DRUG-SUPPLY-INCREASES-RISKS.jpg)
Four overdose calls over three days last week in Toronto have prompted a public health warning about a suspicious drug on the city's streets.
What’s somewhat astonishing is that this man — he wouldn’t agree to have his name used — has been a drug addict for the past quarter century. Crack, crank (methamphetamine), fentanyl, speedballs, hotshots. And somehow he’s still alive to tell the woeful tale.
“I’m a functioning addict,” he explains, sitting on the stoop of a safe-injection site. “I worked my whole life.” Well not quite, not for a long time. “I had a wife, kids, a house.” Taught welding. All of it gone now and living on the streets for many years, a hardscrabble existence.
He says it began with painkillers prescribed after falling off a horse, wrecked his scapula. But every addict has a story. He claims he thrice got clean — for eight years, for six years, the last time for 72 days. He’s always, eventually, succumbed to the lure of the numbing high. “It’s the pain, I’m always in pain.”
He is careful, though, at least to the extent that he consumes his opioids at safe-consumption sites where the drugs are “clean,” not cut with all the unknown additions mixed in by street dealers. Nitazenes, for instance, a new synthetic opioid that’s 10 times stronger than fentanyl, which is 50 times stronger than heroin.
So he has a word of advice for those who aren’t taking precautions. “You’re playing with your life. Doesn’t matter if you’re snorting it, smoking it, injecting it. Chances are you’re going to end up dead.”
This story is from the June 14, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 14, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![A comfortingly disquieting presence](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/nH-Yc-Po21719913154431/A-COMFORTINGLY-DISQUIETING-PRESENCE.jpg)
A comfortingly disquieting presence
Whatever the medium, comedian mastered the art of always being right for the job
![A half-baked publicity stunt](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/9XkkGSJkS1719912907080/A-HALFBAKED-PUBLICITY-STUNT.jpg)
A half-baked publicity stunt
‘The Last Timbit’ is just a 75-minute commercial
![Canada's telecom sector betting on AI](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/WCFjmEQeR1719912817561/CANADAS-TELECOM-SECTOR-BETTING-ON-AI.jpg)
Canada's telecom sector betting on AI
Customers increasingly likely to encounter technology
![City lacks funding to alleviate shortage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/RPX0K02P51719912648561/CITY-LACKS-FUNDING-TO-ALLEVIATE-SHORTAGE.jpg)
City lacks funding to alleviate shortage
Chow says Toronto has capacity to operate more beds, but needs support from province following closure of Parkdale location
![The Costa doing business](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/bs7FUCKHE1719912463507/THE-COSTA-DOING-BUSINESS.jpg)
The Costa doing business
Portugal keeper thwarts three straight to beat Slovenia on penalties
![Predators make the biggest splash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/mGxlDnoam1719912313691/PREDATORS-MAKE-THE-BIGGEST-SPLASH.jpg)
Predators make the biggest splash
Nashville commits more than 100M in new salaries, adding Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei
![Spending on defending](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/onvpQhOiA1719912212724/SPENDING-ON-DEFENDING.jpg)
Spending on defending
Tanev headlines bolstered blue line, while Stolarz joins Woll in crease
![Family-sized dwellings in short supply](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/f9H_SAf4q1719912056980/FAMILYSIZED-DWELLINGS-IN-SHORT-SUPPLY.jpg)
Family-sized dwellings in short supply
The cognitive dissonance could scarcely be more jarring.
![Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/tD3s9MsWJ1719911906629/HURRICANE-BERYL-WREAKS-HAVOC.jpg)
Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc
Category 4 storm hits southeast Caribbean, warning in effect for Jamaica
![Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/iLBSUn0Ew1719911780637/ISRAEL-ORDERS-PALESTINIANS-TO-EVACUATE-KHAN-YOUNIS.jpg)
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.