Interior Health warns Kamloops residents of substance containing ‘extremely high’ amounts of fentanyl

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health (IH) is issuing an urgent warning to people who use drugs in the Kamloops area, saying street samples of ‘down’ have been found to contain “extremely high” concentrations of fentanyl.

IH says the substance is called down, dope, tranq or fentanyl and is sold in a variety of different colours. It is found in chunks, pebbles, granules or a paste.

In an alert issued Monday (Oct. 5), IH says the substance can contain as high as 50 per cent fentanyl and 10 per cent medetomidine — a non-opioid sedative.

Risks for users include a high risk of overdose and death, dizziness and confusion, nausea, amnesia, sleepiness and ‘nodding out’ for a lengthy period.