***Drug Alert - Penticton - June 4, 2026***

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for Penticton and surrounding area. Down sample contains cychlorphine, medetomidine, etizolam, fentanyl, and fluorofentanyl. 

Cychlorphine is a potent synthetic opioid. Cychlorphine is thought to be approximately 10x more potent than fentanyl. Early studies suggest cychlorphine is a long-acting opioid. Effects may last up to 48 hours.

Medetomidine is a very strong non-opioid tranquilizer—much stronger than xylazine (200x). It can potentially be dangerous to the heart. 

Both medetomidine and cychlorphine can slow or stop breathing, leading to life-threatening drug poisoning. Other reported experiences with high doses include nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Always give naloxone if opioid poisoning is suspected and call 9-1-1.

We are linking resources from the BC Centre for Disease Control for your review:

Cychlorphine

Medetomidine 

Please ensure your clients are aware of safer drug use tips that can help prevent overdose as well as where they can access naloxone, drug checking and other overdose prevention services in your community.   

Please see attached poster.

 

Service Provider Information 

Local Substance Use Services: 310-MHSU

Penticton Drug Checking: 250-328-9616

Penticton OPS: 250-274-2110

 

Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic (VAM) 

Our Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) clinic offers a full range of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), including buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®), methadone, and slow-release oral morphine (SROM / Kadian®). 

How VAM works:

• Our team works with you to assess your individual needs, develop a treatment plan, and help you achieve your goals

• The VAM clinic is virtual, meaning your appointments will take place over the phone no matter where you are in the Interior Health region

• The VAM clinic does not provide long-term care. Once you are comfortable with how your treatment is going, we will help you find health services in your community

• If you need help managing prescribed opioid agonist treatment (OAT), supervised consumption, overdose prevention, supervised withdrawal from alcohol, or counselling, please contact your nearest Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use centre at 310-MHSU (6478). 

 • Click here to request an appointment.    

No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose 

• Check your drugs before using! 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 found at www.drugchecking.ca 

• Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone. Find out where to get naloxone on the ‘Towards the Heart’ website, under ‘Find a site’. 

• When using substances: 

• Use with others around 

• Use one person at a time so someone can respond to overdose if needed 

• When using your substance start with a small amount, and then go slow. 

• Know the risks when mixing drugs  

• Smoking is not safer than injecting, be cautious when smoking your drugs 

• If using alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download at the App Store or Google Play.   

**Island Health - Overdose Advisory - Mt. Waddington **

Drug poisonings are increasing in Mt. Waddington. Friends, family and
community members using unregulated substances face increased risk.

For more information:

Overdose Advisory June 2nd

***Drug Alert - Kelowna - June 2, 2026***

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for Kelowna and surrounding area. Counterfeit (fake) tablets sold as Oxycodone/Percocet were found to contain Medetomidine. Medetomidine is a very strong tranquilizer. It can cause breathing and heart rate to slow down, which makes overdoses more complicated and last longer. Medetomidine is potentially dangerous to the heart. It does not respond to naloxone.

Please ensure your clients are aware of safer drug use tips that can help prevent overdose as well as where they can access naloxone, drug checking and other overdose prevention services in your community.   

Please see attached poster.

 

Service Provider Information: 

Supervised Consumption and Overdose Prevention Services 

Drug Checking services found at www.drugchecking.ca   

Local Substance Use Services: 310-MHSU  

 

 Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic (VAM) 

Our Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) clinic offers a full range of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), including buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®), methadone, and slow-release oral morphine (SROM / Kadian®). 

How VAM works:

• Our team works with you to assess your individual needs, develop a treatment plan, and help you achieve your goals

• The VAM clinic is virtual, meaning your appointments will take place over the phone no matter where you are in the Interior Health region

• The VAM clinic does not provide long-term care. Once you are comfortable with how your treatment is going, we will help you find health services in your community

• If you need help managing prescribed opioid agonist treatment (OAT), supervised consumption, overdose prevention, supervised withdrawal from alcohol, or counselling, please contact your nearest Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use centre at 310-MHSU (6478). 

 • Click here to request an appointment.    

No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose 

• Check your drugs before using! 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 found at www.drugchecking.ca 
• Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone. Find out where to get naloxone on the ‘Towards the Heart’ website, under ‘Find a site’. 
• When using substances: 
• Use with others around 
• Use one person at a time so someone can respond to overdose if needed 
• When using your substance start with a small amount, and then go slow. 
• Know the risks when mixing drugs  
• Smoking is not safer than injecting, be cautious when smoking your drugs 
• If using alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download at the App Store or Google Play.   

***Overdose Advisory - Quesnel - May 29, 2026***

There has been an increase in overdose events in the community of Quesnel. Substances circulating in community are highly toxic, causing heavy and prolonged sedation, and require more naloxone to reverse. Overdoses are happening when the substances are smoked and/or injected.

More information here: 

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/overdose-advisory-quesnel-0

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention

***Toxic Drug Alert - Prince George - May 26, 2026***

Northern Health and First Nations Health Authority are issuing a Toxic Drug Alert for the community of Prince George. Originally the substance was reported as a yellow-orange sold as “down”. Substances of all colours and textures are highly toxic resulting in an increased number of overdoses.

This substance is highly toxic, causes heavy and prolonged sedation, and requires more naloxone to reverse. Overdoses happen when the substance is smoked and/or injected.

Please see posters for more info: Poster 1 | Poster 2 

For more information, go to:

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/toxic-drug-alert-prince-george-22

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention