By Canadian Press

Don’t wait to act on opioid deaths, coroner warns in report on Quebec teen’s death

Jan 31, 2025 | 9:54 AM

MONTREAL — The death of a Quebec teen who was poisoned from a synthetic opioid should raise alarm bells for authorities to do more to prevent similar tragedies.

Coroner Stéphanie Gamache issued the call this week in a report into the death of 15-year-old Mathis Boivin.

Boivin died in December 2023 after he consumed N-desethyl isotonitazene, a powerful synthetic opioid.

The teenager believed he had taken oxycodone, an opioid used for pain relief.

Michaud writes that drug intoxication deaths are on the rise across North America and Quebec is not immune from it.

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She says young people should be better educated at school about the dangers of opioids and how to identity if they or their peers are at risk of drug abuse.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025.

The Canadian Press