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Health officials are warning that drug poisonings are on the rise across B.C., with a new single-day record for most drug poisonings attended by paramedics being set last week.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has issued a province-wide drug alert, noting new substances in the unregulated drug supply are putting people at risk province-wide.
It said medetomidine, used primarily by veterinarians to sedate animals, is now being mixed with opioids like fentanyl.
Alexis Crabtree, a public health physician with BCCDC, says doctors are concerned about life-threatening effects when the drug is mixed with fentanyl.
“People are very sleepy, don’t wake up after they’ve been given naloxone, have a low heart rate, or may have something different about their blood pressure,” said Crabtree.
“That can make it more complicated for people who are responding.”
A recent spike in 911 calls and overdoses is being linked by officials to the potent opioid fentanyl being mixed with the animal tranquilizer medetomidine. As Jon Hernandez reveals, experts are worried about this dangerous new ingredient flooding the streets.
During the week of Jan. 16 to 22, paramedics responded to over 1,100 overdoses across the province, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS).
Paramedics responded to 256 drug poisoning calls on January 21, marking a new single-day record.
“These high levels of drug poisonings make us very concerned,” said Crabtree.
Crabtree also warns that withdrawal from medetomidine can be deadly for those who use it regularly.
“If that occurs, we would like people to seek medical attention, because there are treatments that can help them through that period,” she said.
Paxton Bach, with the B.C. Centre on Substance Use, says the overall number of overdose deaths across B.C. and Canada has been decreasing.
However, the amount of non-fatal overdoses is continuing to climb.
“The number of other adulterants and additions into the drug supply is continuing to rise … which add significantly to the complexity of these overdoses,” said Bach.
He says these complex overdoses are stretching first responders and hospitals thin, and encourages everyone to learn how to use the anti-opioid drug naloxone and carry a kit with them.
Interior Health issued a similar drug alert, to that issued by the BCCDC, over the weekend for Trail and Nelson specifically.
The alert noted individuals affected by medetomidine are passing out on the street, appearing confused or severely impaired.
BCEHS said the vast majority of illicit drug toxicity deaths happen when people use alone, because there is no one to call 911.
It recommends not using alone or using the Connect app by Lifeguard if drug users do use alone.
