By Jill Sperling

Interior Health issues overdose alert, offers tips to reduce harm

Jan 27, 2018 | 6:07 AM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health is urging Interior residents to take the necessary precautions to prevent an overdose.

From Tuesday to Friday (Jan.23-26) this week there were seven suspected overdose deaths within the health region, prompting IH to issue an overdose alert.  

Interior Health is advising that people reconsider using illicit drugs, and has offered the following tips to redue the risk of overdose: 

• Don’t mix different drugs (including pharmaceutical medications, street drugs, and alcohol).
• Don’t take drugs when you are alone. Leave door unlocked. Tell someone to check on you.
• Use less and pace yourself. Do testers to check strength – a small sample of a drug before taking your usual dosage.
• Keep an eye out for your friends – stay together and look out for each other.
• Carry a Naloxone kit and know how to use it. A list of locations to get a kit can be found on the Interior Health website or on the Toward the Heart website.   
• Recognize the signs of an OD: slow or no breathing, gurgling or gasping, lips/fingertips turning blue, difficult to rouse (awaken), non-responsive. 
• If someone thinks they may be having an overdose or is witnessing an overdose, follow the SAVE ME steps and call 9-1-1 immediately, do not delay.

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Interior Health has information available on its website regarding Mobile Supervised Consumption Services in Kamloops and Kelowna, as well as resources related to overdose and substance use.