B.C. Warns of Deadly Fentanyl in Fake Oxy Pills

Health authorities in British Columbia's Interior have issued an urgent drug alert for Kelowna, warning residents about counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain lethal, unquantifiable amounts of fentanyl. The health authority highlighted that fentanyl is up to 75 times stronger than oxycodone, significantly elevating overdose risks for individuals consuming these illicit tablets. This alert follows recent warnings from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control regarding an increase in drug poisonings province-wide, partly due to the presence of the veterinary tranquilizer medetomidine in the unregulated drug supply.

Paramedics in B.C. have seen a dramatic rise in overdose calls, responding to over 1,100 incidents across the province during the week of January 16 to 22. The province advises individuals using unregulated substances to have their drugs tested, avoid using alone, and practice harm reduction by starting with low doses. Experts emphasize that the unregulated nature of street drugs means their contents are unpredictable, contributing to a decade-long toxic drug public health emergency.