Kamloops drug users warned of contaminated down, heightened risk of fatal overdose

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health (IH) has issued an alert for Kamloops residents who use drugs, warning them of street drugs that may contain dangerous contamination.

The alert was issued Tuesday (May 19) and will remain in effect for at least one week.

Information distributed by IH describes the substance as purple or pink chunks and pebbles. It is being sold as down, dope, tranq or fentanyl.

Testing has shown the substance contains up to 16 per cent medetomidine – a non-opioid tranquilizer considered 200 times more powerful than xylazine.