Salmon Arm RCMP are advising the public of a potent drug supply within the city, following multiple responses to suspected overdoses in the past 24 hours.
Police said the Salmon Arm RCMP always advise against the use of any illicit substance or drug but also believe in the importance of sharing this information to prevent more overdoses.
“The specific drug being used has not been identified at this time,” police said in its statement.
Anyone that uses illicit drugs is advised to carry naloxone and know how to use it.
Interior health has also issued a recent drug alert for counterfeit tablet’s sold as Dilaudid.
It is often sold as “Dilaudid”, “dillies”, or “hydromorphone” although it does not contain hydromorphone.
Counterfeit Dilaudid contains isotonitazene, which is considered up to 50 times stronger than fentanyl and has a very high risk of overdose.
Police add that fentanyl is a highly potent and addictive synthetic opioid analgesic that is estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine.
“The effects of fentanyl are unpredictable,” RCMP’s statement continued. “Users have no idea of the level of purity or the potency of what they take.”
“When mixed with antidepressants, fentanyl is potentially lethal.”
Police also describe Cychlorphine, a new class of laboratory-made opioids known as orphines.
“Cychlorphine is rare now but may become more common.”
Cychlorphine is thought to be approximately 10 times more potent than fentanyl. There are currently no test strips that work to detect cychlorphine.
Police are urging anyone experiencing an overdose or is witnessing an overdose to call 9-1-1 immediately.
