Canadian Mayor Apologizes for Spreading ‘Fentanyl-Laced’ Vape Rumour

A small town mayor in British Columbia has apologized after spreading false information about supposed “fentanyl-laced” vape juice. He had told a public meeting in January that a friend of his son's teammate had died from taking a hit off a vape, CBC News reports.

Karl Buhr, the mayor of Lions Bay, BC, apologized for spreading the false info in a writeup online:

"You'd think even an amateur, small-town politician would know better than to repeat hearsay, because upon further inquiry, I find that nothing happened at Rockridge [Secondary School in West Vancouver]. There was never laced vape juice, and what likely did happen was elsewhere and for other causes… I apologise to all affected by my incorrect statement."

Lions Bay has a population of just over 1,300 and is located between Vancouver and Whistler, BC.

"Let me just tell you a sad story," Buhr originally said when telling the story in January that ended up being false. "My daughter, as you know, is 15. My son is 14. A kid who played on his soccer team and baseball team last year… [his friend] died yesterday after taking one hit from a vape that had fentanyl in it. Bought the juice, they call it, from a dealer at Rockridge. One hit, fell down dead in front of his friends."

In response to VICE’s request for comment, Buhr emailed us a statement.

“That story I told was hearsay doing the rounds at the local high school. It didn't happen,” he wrote. “The resulting CBC story unfortunately omits me calling out the presence and dangers of opioids and vaping in my subsequent regular Friday message to the community. I said ‘…opioids are here, and Lions Bay is particularly not unscathed.’” Buhr referred to how he wanted to highlight how the overdose crisis has in fact impacted members of his small community.

“I could have used the opportunity to do something effective. I hope a full read of my apology does that,” he said. “I accept responsibility for poor execution, and again hope it won't dilute the need for communities to acknowledge the danger present among us.”

Though Buhr rightfully apologized, this is an example of how hearsay and hysteria is complicating the public health crisis we're currently facing. Given that the opioid crisis claimed at least 4,000 lives across Canada in 2017 and tens of thousands in the US, it’s understandably become hard for many to not become highly concerned about themselves and their loved ones being in harm’s way.

The vape story was bogus, but fentanyl has indeed been found in non-opioid substances. It’s a strange phenomenon harm reduction experts say is likely due to contamination rather than intentional acts, but it’s especially dangerous because people who don’t use opioids have low tolerances when met with this type of drug.

I personally interviewed a man named Ken Davies from Sooke, BC who survived a near-fatal fentanyl overdose after snorting cocaine laced with the deadly opioid. Contaminated drugs are indeed a real danger, though stories like Ken's are not common. Just last week, harm reduction workers in Toronto warned of fentanyl-laced crack that had caused overdoses in the city’s east side. Fake prescription pills have also played a significant role in the crisis, notably the fake OxyContin commonly found in western Canada, but extending to faux pill pressings of non-opioid substances such as Xanax.

However, stories about fentanyl-laced drugs are widely read and shared—sometimes to viral levels—contributing to public perception of the reality of the crisis overall.

There's a resounding amount of public concern surrounding fentanyl-laced substances in the US and Canada, though not all of it is based in fact. Cannabis has been notably plagued with unfounded concerns of fentanyl contamination, which was explored in a 2017 VICE article.

Hysteria aside, If you’re looking to use substances as safely as you possibly can, remember to use small amounts; wait in between doses; don’t mix substances; don’t use alone; test your substances if you can; and pick up a naloxone kit, which can halt an opioid overdose.

Correction note: An earlier version of this story stated it was the mayor's son's teammate who died, while it was actually a friend of his son's teammate.