A top officer with the Halifax Regional Police says he's troubled by the presence of fentanyl in the municipality after a man who ingested the deadly drug was found unresponsive Sunday in Dartmouth.

Deputy Chief Bill Moore said police agencies across Nova Scotia are ramping up their fight against the illicit painkiller responsible for hundreds of deaths across Canada.

"The reality is there has been a bit of a wave of fentanyl coming across the country from the West Coast and yes, it's now present in our community," Moore said Monday.

"It's something that is very troubling for us."

Man improving after ingesting drug

Paramedics who responded Sunday to the 0-100 block of Robert Drive were able to stabilize the 24-year-old man after he ingested the painkiller. He was taken to hospital where police said he continues to improve.

The scene was secured for seven hours while a hazmat team worked to remove the fentanyl so it could be disposed of properly. A dose of the opioid the size of a grain of sand is capable of killing someone.

"Because it is such a strong opioid, if someone comes into contact with fentanyl and it gets into their system, it basically stops them from breathing," said Moore.

Fentanyl's presence 'scary,' say neighbours

Nearby residents were upset to hear fentanyl is in their neighbourhood.

"It's just a very scary thing," said Suzanne Fraser, who lives near the home where the man was found.

Lisa Bezanson, who lives across the street, said she hoped the man was OK.

"It's definitely a tremendously scary situation, especially being this close to home," she said. "It's a sad situation all around."

Moore said police are especially concerned that people dealing fentanyl are cutting it into other drugs, including OxyContin.

"You are getting a lot more opioid than you bargained for," said Moore. "That's what's leading to overdoses."

Drug used to treat overdoses

Police now have access to Naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids. (CBC)

Nova Scotia has had at least 49 opioid-related overdose deaths this year.

Police received a shipment last week of Naloxone, a powerful medication that can help reverse the effects of an overdose caused by fentanyl or other opioids.

Health and justice government officials, police forces, and professional associations for doctors, nurses and paramedics met in October to develop the province's first comprehensive response to the problem.