Kamloops RCMP warn of spike in drug overdoses

Mar 24, 2016 | 1:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — RCMP say since yesterday’s three drug overdoses in a downtown parkade – one of them fatal – there have been at least four more overdoses in the city.

Three occurred in separate circumstances overnight, and a fourth came into Royal Inland Hospital’s emergency room during the noon hour.

Staff Sergeant Robert Daly says that’s an abnormally large number in a short period of time.

“This is a spike, no doubt about it, so for public safety we are telling everyone not to utilize street drugs in the Kamloops area right now,” said Daly.

Daly says intravenous heroin use is confirmed in several of the overdoses, but RCMP can’t confirm whether it comes from a bad batch making the rounds.

“It is very difficult for us to tell what it is, if it is actually heroin or if it’s actually something spiked, or something else causing the issue, we’re not aware just yet. It’s too early in the investigation.”

A 41-year-old man died of an overdose yesterday.

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