Though not registered for use in T&T, the Health Ministry is urging the public to look out for fake Oxycontin 80mg drugs and to stop using them once identified.

It says the falsified product was detected in the unregulated market in Switzerland and reported to the WHO.

The original drug, used for pain, is a semi-synthetic opioid containing oxycodone hydrochloride.

But, but testing on the falsified product showed it contained a compound which can be hundreds of times stronger, posing a high overdose risk.

The falsified product can be identified by the following visible discrepancies:

· The placement of the batch and expiry date on the falsified product is incorrect.

· On the falsified product the batch and expiry date are visible on the front side of the blister strip.

· Genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch and expiry date visible on the back of the blister strip.

· On the falsified product the expiry date is on the left and the batch number on the right.

· Genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch number on the left and expiry date on the right.