The government of French Polynesia denied on Friday, February 27, any circulation of fentanyl or other new drugs in the territory, following the circulation on social media of a video showing a young woman in an altered physical and mental state. The woman in question has been taken into care by health services, authorities stated.
In a statement, the country indicated that no confirmed cases of trafficking in new psychoactive substances have been identified at this stage. No reports confirming the unusual presence of fentanyl or other similar products have been recorded by health surveillance and pharmacovigilance systems.
No confirmed health alerts
Authorities emphasize that there is no evidence to suggest the emergence of a phenomenon comparable to those observed in some countries. They also reiterate that the term "zombie drug," widely circulated online, has no scientific basis and, in other countries, can refer to illicit mixtures containing fentanyl and other substances.
The government is urging caution regarding hasty interpretations of content circulating on social media and reminds the public of the importance of respecting image rights, particularly those of vulnerable individuals. It also encourages the public and healthcare professionals to report any suspicious situations to the appropriate authorities.
