An Interior-wide warning has been issued over deadly carfentanil in the region's drug supply.
Carfentanil is similar to fentanyl, but is magnitudes more potent and deadly.
According to Interior Health drugs being sold across the region have tested positive for carfentanil, frequently alongside other drugs like benzodiazepines.
The combination of different types of drugs amplifies their effect, but significantly increases the risk of fatal overdose. The effects of benzodiazepines, which are not opioids, are not affected by the application of Naloxone in the case of an overdose.
Interior Health is warning that smoking the drugs is not any safer than injecting them, and that in the case of an overdose, it might take multiple repeated applications of Naloxone.
Regardless of how the drugs are taken, and what type of drugs they claim to be, Interior Health advises the following steps to reduce the chance of an overdose:
*Whether using take-home fentanyl test strips or accessing drug checking services in your area, drug checking can inform you about what is in your drugs. Drug checking services can be found at www.drugchecking.ca.
*Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone.
*Use with others present, and only have one person use at a time so that there is someone able to respond to an overdose
*When using, start with a small amount and go slow
*If using alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download from the App Store or Google Play.
*The location of supervised consumption and overdose prevention services in the region is available online at interiorhealth.ca/services/supervised-consumption-and-overdose-prevention-services.
The warning was issued on July 7 and will be in effect across the Interior Health area until August 4.
