By The Canadian Press

B.C.’s Fraser Health warns of latest spike in overdoses, urges caution

Jul 28, 2016 | 2:18 PM

SURREY, B.C. — A spike in overdoses in Surrey, B.C., has prompted health officials there to warn that all illicit drugs may be contaminated with lethal substances.

Dr. Victoria Lee, chief medical health officer of Fraser Health, says the warning goes out to recreational drug users and addicts that contaminants could be in heroin, crack, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy and GHB.

Two weekends ago, the health authority says it saw 43 overdoses between Friday and Monday and an average of three a day to the hospital since then.

One person died, and the health authority says several other deaths are suspected to have been caused by overdoses since the latest outbreak.

More than 250 naloxone kits have been handed out in Surrey since the spike, and the authority has launched a campaign warning people of the dangers, telling them to do drugs with a buddy and not to mix multiple substances, including alcohol.

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The surge in overdoses prompted the province to declare a public health emergency in April, and on Wednesday Premier Christy Clark announced a task force on overdose response.