***Drug Alert - Vancouver - April 27, 2026***

VCH has issued a drug alert.

White powder sold as down in southeast Vancouver tested negative for fentanyl and positive for medetomidine, a toxic veterinary tranquilizer.

Check your drugs: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/drug-checking

***Drug Alert - Penticton - April 24, 2026***

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for Penticton and surrounding area. A tablet sold as dilaudid / dillies / hydromorphone was found to contain cychlorphine.  It does not contain hydromorphone. Cychlorphine is an opioid approximately 10x the potency of fentanyl. Using illicit tablets is not recommended due to the heightened risk of overdose. Be aware of risk of fakes, if not purchasing from a pharmacy.

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 for more information. 

 

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.   

***Drug Alert - Squamish - April 22, 2026***

Multiple substances (green/yellow, red) sold as down in Squamish have tested positive for fentanyl, benzos and medetomidine. Substances have caused overdose.

Check your drugs: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/drug-checking

***Toxic Drug Alert - Prince George - April 17, 2026***

Northern Health and FNHA are issuing a Toxic Drug Alert for the community of Prince George following an increase in overdose events in the community. The substance is being sold as “down” and is pink with white flecks, looking orange when crushed.

This substance is highly toxic, causes heavy and prolonged sedation, and requires more naloxone to reverse. Overdoses have been reported to occur when the substance is smoked.

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-21
• https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention