Provincial police say the closure of the Canada-U.S. border during the COVID-19 pandemic has driven up the price of illicit street drugs and driven down the quality of what is being sold in eastern Ontario. Street-level dealers also seem to be stretching their supplies further, mixing dangerous drugs that can lead to irreversible overdoses, police say. Dubé said that in the months since COVID-19 closed the border between New York State and Quebec, the drug trade in eastern Ontario has had to adapt. Earlier this month, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit issued a warning about the prevalence of "purple heroin" in the Cornwall, Ont., area. "People are desperate ... really taking whatever they can," said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health and CEO of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

Source: CBC News June 23, 2020 07:52 UTC