Pink chunky substance being sold as down, dope, or fentanyl in Kamloops. (Image Credit: Interior Health)

By Victor Kaisar

Drug Alerts

Interior Health issues pair of drug alerts; one specifically for Kamloops

Jul 10, 2025 | 7:42 AM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health has issued a pair of drug alerts, one of which is specifically for the City of Kamloops.

The alert for Kamloops was issued Wednesday (July 9) as Interior Health warned of a pinky chunky substance being sold down, dope, or fentanyl. It said that substance was found to contain fluorofentanyl and ketamine.

“Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. In higher doses, it can cause immobilization, loss of body control, dizziness and hallucinations,” the alert said. “The combination of fluorofentanyl and ketamine can lead to significant sedation.”

The health authority said symptoms include dizziness, dissociation and confusion, nausea, amnesia, and it may cause people to be sleepy or to nod out for a long time.

“The overdose symptoms may last beyond administration of naloxone,” it warned.

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Interior Health also issued a drug alert that covered its entire area on Monday (July 7) as it warned of an increase in the detection of carfentanil in Down (opioid) samples over the past month.

“These samples frequently contain benzodiazepines and tranquilizers, in addition to carfentanil,” Interior Health said. “The combination of opioids with these substances amplify the effects of the drugs and significantly heightens the risk of overdose and death.”

It noted carfentanil is up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl. It said a concentration of up to 4 per cent of carfentanil has been detected in Down, which they note is equivalent to a fentanyl concentration of up to 400 per cent.

In both cases, Interior Health said people who use drugs should get it checked first. They also said to never use alone and to be aware of risks if mixing substances with other drugs or alcohol.

The Kamloops drug alert will be in effect until July 16, while there was no end date listed for the Interior Health-wide alert.

For more information on drug checking locations, go here. For information on support services, call 211 or go online here.