***Toxic Drug Poisoning - Vernon - August 29, 2025***

Interior Heath has issued an OVERDOSE ALERT for Vernon due to an increase in non fatal drug poisonings (overdoses).

Please ensure your clients are 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.   

Please display the attached poster in high visibility locations and remove it on September 5, 2025.  

Service Provider Information 

IH Mental Health Services: 310-MHSU

Drug Checking:  Medicine Shoppe 778-212-8611

OPS Service:  Downtown MHSU 250-503-3737

Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic (VAM) 

Our Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) clinic offers a full range of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), including buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®), methadone, and slow-release oral morphine (SROM / Kadian®). 

How VAM works: 

• Our team works with you to assess your individual needs, develop a treatment plan, and help you achieve your goals 

• The VAM clinic is virtual, meaning your appointments will take place over the phone no matter where you are in the Interior Health region 

• The VAM clinic does not provide long-term care. Once you are comfortable with how your treatment is going, we will help you find health services in your community 

• If you need help managing prescribed safer supply or alternatives, supervised consumption, overdose prevention, supervised withdrawal from alcohol, or counselling, please contact your nearest Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use centre at 310-MHSU (6478).  

• Click here to request an appointment.   

No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose 

• Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone. Find out where to get naloxone on the ‘Towards the Heart’ website, under ‘Find a site’. 

• When using substances: 

o    Use with others around 

o    Use one person at a time so someone can respond to overdose if needed 

o    When using your substance start with a small amount, and then go slow. 

o    Know the risks when mixing drugs  

o    Smoking is not safer than injecting, be cautious when smoking your drugs 

o    If using alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download at the App Store or Google Play.   

 

 

***Drug Alert - Vancouver - Aug 28, 2025***

VCH has issued a drug alert.

Triangular white tablet imprinted with “APO” sold as hydromorphone in Vancouver tested positive for a fentanyl analog precursor and benzos, and negative for hydromorphone.

Check your drugs https://www.vch.ca/en/service/drug-checking.

***Overdose Alert - Trail and Surrounding Area - August 28, 2025***

Interior Heath has issued an OVERDOSE ALERT for Trail and surrounding area due to an increase in drug overdose events and overdose deaths.

Please ensure your clients are 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.   

Please display the attached poster in high visibility locations and remove it on September 4, 2025.  

Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic (VAM) 

Our Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) clinic offers a full range of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), including buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®), methadone, and slow-release oral morphine (SROM / Kadian®). 

How VAM works: 

• Our team works with you to assess your individual needs, develop a treatment plan, and help you achieve your goals 

• The VAM clinic is virtual, meaning your appointments will take place over the phone no matter where you are in the Interior Health region 

• The VAM clinic does not provide long-term care. Once you are comfortable with how your treatment is going, we will help you find health services in your community 

• If you need help managing prescribed safer supply or alternatives, supervised consumption, overdose prevention, supervised withdrawal from alcohol, or counselling, please contact your nearest Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use centre at 310-MHSU (6478).  

• Click here to request an appointment.   

No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose 

• Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone. Find out where to get naloxone on the ‘Towards the Heart’ website, under ‘Find a site’. 

• When using substances: 

o   Use with others around 

o   Use one person at a time so someone can respond to overdose if needed 

o   When using your substance start with a small amount, and then go slow. 

o   Know the risks when mixing drugs  

o   Smoking is not safer than injecting, be cautious when smoking your drugs 

o   If using alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose. Download at the App Store or Google Play.   

 

***Toxic Drug Advisory - Fraser Health Region - Aug 28, 2025***

There has been an increase in toxic drug events in communities across Fraser Health over the past week.

Recent signals suggest carfentanil is re-emerging in BCʼs drug supply. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than fentanyl. It is primarily used in veterinary medicine for large animals and is not intended for use in humans. Naloxone can reverse its effects, but multiple doses may be necessary. Monitor the person's breathing before administering more naloxone. As with fentanyl, effects can return when naloxone wears off.

Friends, family, and community members using unregulated substances may face increased harms of unknowingly taking different substances than intended.

Click here for more information and a printable poster. 

***Toxic Drug Alert - Dawson Creek - August 23, 2025***

Northern Health is issuing a drug alert for the community of Dawson Creek. A brown/gold beige colored tablet sold as Fentanyl has been linked to an increased number of overdoses in community. There is a risk whether the substance is smoked or injected.

 

For more information, go to:

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/toxic-drug-alert-dawson-creek-bc

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention

 

To sign up for text-based drug alerts for Northern Health and other health regions, text JOIN to 253787

***Toxic Drug Alert - Prince George - August 22, 2025***

Northern Health has issued a Toxic Drug Alert for Prince George. A pressed pill sold as oxycodone tested positive for flourofentanyl (fentanyl analogue) and bromazolam (benzo) this drug has been linked to an increase in overdoses.

For more information, go to:

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/toxic-drug-alert-prince-george-19

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention

***Overdose Advisory - Fort St. John - August 21, 2025***

Northern Health has issued a Overdose Advisory for the community of Fort St John.

An increased number of overdoses have been reported, resulting in prolonged sedation and requiring more Naloxone to reverse.

For more information, go to:

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/overdose-advisory-fort-st-john

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention

To sign up for text-based drug alerts for Northern Health and other health regions, text JOIN to 253787

 

***Toxic Drug Advisory - Prince George - Aug 18 2025***

Northern Health has issued a toxic drug advisory for the community of Prince George.

A light purple pebble-like substance testing positive for carfentanil is possibly linked to increased overdoses and abnormal symptoms.

For more information, go to:

https://stories.northernhealth.ca/news/drug-advisory-prince-george-0

https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/overdose-prevention

To sign up for text-based drug alerts for Northern Health and other health regions, text JOIN to 253787