Interior wide alert issued for substance sold as cocaine

Interior Health has issued a region-wide alert for cocaine containing fentanyl.

The health authority issued the alert Thursday, April 13, saying the white powdery substance is being sold on the street as cocaine, but due to the concentrations of fentanyl, has been linked to multiple overdoses and fatalities throughout the region.

IH noted the drug poses a high risk of fatal overdose, and also causes amnesia, sleepiness, heavy snoring, and nodding off for a long time.

People are advised to have their drugs checked, to use at a safe consumption or overdose prevention site, to start with a small amount, to not mix with other drugs or alcohol, and to carry Naloxone.

The alert will remain in place until April 20.