Canadian boy dies in his sleep A few days before Christmas, Christian Boivin, a father in Montreal, was brushing his teeth at home as he was brushing his teeth and preparing for bed.
On the evening of 21 December, 15-year-old Mathis Boivin climbed into bed as usual and subsequently died in his sleep. And his family rested in the living room that night.
In an interview before his son's funeral last Friday, the father said: "He never woke up. "
According to the father, on the day of the incident, after dinner, his son went to a subway station in Montreal and spent 50 yuan to buy 5 pills, which he took that night. It is purportedly a drug called isotonitazene, which the Montreal health department describes as an opioid that is "stronger than fentanyl."
图片来源Global News
The father said of the drug: "Just one is poison." "
He revealed that his son was taking the medicine alone at home. The next morning, he heard his son's alarm go off, but he didn't get out of bed, and only then did he realize that something was wrong.
Image source: CityNews
He described his son as an ordinary teenager: "His life is small, but it is wonderful".
The 15-year-old is a student at the Collège de Montréal, loves to travel, enjoys spending time with friends, loves music and often goes to concerts with his father.
图片来源：Global News
The father said that his son did not have a drug addiction problem when he died, but that he was as curious about drugs as other teenagers. They had spoken openly about it before, and he and his wife had tried to warn their son not to touch, especially strong opioids, as they could be very dangerous. It wasn't until after their son's death that they learned that their son had taken isotonitazene.
The family hopes that their son's death can be brought to the attention and prevent other fatal drug overdoses from happening again. At the same time, they encourage parents and children to speak openly about drug-related risks.
The father said, "Don't smoke! Don't even try...... Because my son died the first time he tried this drug, there was no second chance. "
图片来源Global News
Montreal Public Health said in an email that isotonitazene is associated with a high risk of overdose and that the drug is often detected in street drugs. The Health Authority issued a warning in November 2020 about pills adulterated with this opioid.
According to the Montreal Health Department, since 2020, isotonitazene has been found in autopsy toxicology tests of 14 deceased. Naloxone is a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, but due to the potency of isotonitazene, multiple doses may be required to take effect.
The Montreal Health Department reminds people to exercise caution and never take medication alone.
As for the cause of Mathis's death, Montreal police said they could not say if an investigation was underway.