FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
February 16, 2022 - 4:30 PM
Interior Health is urging users to get their drugs tested as a tainted supply circulates the region.
Several drug samples across the region showed a street supply with a high risk of fatal overdose and a potential unresponsiveness to Naloxone, according to Interior Health.
Drugs sold as "down," or fentanyl, tested in different communities in the region are four to five times stronger than typical street supply.
According to Interior Health, the samples contained up to 55% of fentanyl.
They also had up to 25% of etizolam, which suppresses the effects of Naloxone and can cause long periods of sleep.
Drugs of various colours and textures across the Interior Health region are testing four to five times their normal potency. A drug alert from Interior Health will remain in effect until Feb. 26, 2022.
Image Credit: Interior Health
Typically, drug supply in Kamloops ranges around 10% to 15% fentanyl content, Kile McKenna said, who tests drugs for ASK Wellness.
"Someone could take what they think is one dose, but it's really four to five," he said, adding the increased benzodiazepine content puts an added risk on the current supply.
Benzodiazepines and etizolam are depressants, much like opioids, but Naloxone has no effect on them.
The Interior Health drug alert will remain in place until Feb. 26 across the region.
Users are encouraged to get their drugs tested and to use around others or at an overdose prevention site. Given the potency of the supply, users are also told to "start low and go slow" with the current supply.
More information on where to get drugs tested can be found here.
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