Information For Alerts and People Who Use Substances
This page contains important information about staying safe. Use this page for the latest on signing up for Toxic Drug and Public Health Alerts, as well as accessing overdose prevention and drug checking services in BC.
Alerts
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Interior Health - Drug Alert - PentictonMay 29, 2023 • Posted by Interior Health
***Drug Alert - Penticton - May 29, 2023***
Interior Health has issued a DRUG ALERT for Penticton as a sample of white crystals and powder sold as Methamphetamine was found to contain Fentanyl. There is a extreme risk of overdose and very high risk of fatal overdose.
Click here for a printable versions of the poster.
No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose.
Please be 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.
Consider these additional tips if you are going to use drugs:
- Find drug checking locations at www.drugchecking.ca
- Be aware that benzodiazepine induced sedation is not reversible by naloxone
- Be aware of risks if mixing with other drugs, including alcohol
- Use with others around or at an Overdose Prevention Site if available in your
community (OPS) - Start with a small amount and space out your doses
- Carry naloxone and know how to use it
- Get the Lifeguard app - lifeguarddh.com which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download at the App Store or Google Play.
- Call 211 or visit bc211.ca to find services near you
Toxic Drug and Health Alerts
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Health Authority Regions Map
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Instructions
- MENU to see all the options and tools for this service
- FIND to find harm reduction supplies
- NARCAN to learn where naloxone kits are available
- SAFE to find overdose prevention sites
- TREAT to find substance use treatment and support services
- OD to tell us about toxic drugs so we can warn others
- MAP to confirm or change the area you want to receive alerts for
- HELP (or AIDE) for help with this text service
- STOP (or ARRET) to stop receiving texts from this number
- START (or COMMENCER) to rejoin this service after texting STOP
Send and receive Toxic Drug and Health Alerts by text
To sign up, text the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).
When you sign up you’ll be asked which health region you want to get alerts for. You can choose more than one region or sign up for the whole province. You will receive alerts for all of B.C. if you do not choose an area. To find out which health region you live in, look here.
Once you’ve signed up, you can text the following words for more options:
For more information about texting, read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
- Print Resources
Send and receive Toxic Drug and Health Alerts by text.
Toward the Heart and BCCDC have partnered with health authority and community partners to send anonymous toxic drug and health alerts by text in B.C.
Toxic drug and health alerts is a free, real-time text messaging service for anyone to receive toxic drug alerts or share information about toxic drugs in their community. This service is anonymous.
People can get other information by text message, like where to find naloxone or how to get drugs tested.
Toxic drug and health alerts are currently available in Interior, Fraser, Northern, Vancouver, and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
To sign up, text the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).
Overdose Prevention Sites
Overdose Prevention Sites are locations where people can use illegal drugs under supervision by trained staff who can provide emergency response services if necessary. The Health Authority links below have the most current information.
Vancouver Coastal | Interior BC | Vancouver Island | Northern BC | Fraser
Drug Checking Services
Drug checking services are now offered by a variety of harm reduction service providers across BC. The links below include the most current information.
Vancouver Coastal | Interior BC | Vancouver Island | Northern BC | Fraser
For more information and locations see:
- BC Centre on Substance Use: https://drugcheckingbc.ca/
- Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project: substance.uvic.ca
Find Overdose Prevention Sites
Choose "Overdose Prevention Site" from the supply options below.
Updates
Report Bad Dope (Greater Vancouver)
Help warn people and save lives by filling in an anonymous form.
Prevent & Respond to Overdoses
Know the risks, signs and responses for the different kinds of overdoses.
Safer Sex & Drug Use
While nothing is completely safe, there are ways you can reduce your risk.
