Drug alert issued for substance

Interior Health has issued a drug alert for a substance seen in Kelowna recently.

The health authority said the light blue substance, which can be either chunky or a powder, is being sold as “down,” “dope” and “fentanyl.”

The drug does have high concentrations of fentanyl at over 60 per cent, but also contains 10 per cent Bromazolam (Benzodiazapine) which can interfere with the effectiveness of Naloxone.

Those factors mean that the drug has a very high risk of overdose, and of fatal overdose, and IH noted smoking it is not safer than injecting.

People using street drugs are advised to have them inspected at a drug checking location, to be aware of risks if mixing with other drugs, including alcohol, and to use around others or at an overdose prevention site.