BC’s Interior Health Authority out with Drug Alert following multiple overdoses in East Kootenay

Aug 6, 2026 | 2:05 PM

The Interior Health Authority in B.C. issued a Drug Alert Thursday covering the East Kootenay region for Down, which it says, contains a high amount of Medetomidine and Fentanyl.

There has been multiple overdoses reported and it looks like pink chunks and pebbles.

It has been sold as Down, Dope, Tranq, and Fentanyl.

Risks associated with the drug include a high risk of overdose and fatal overdoses, dizziness, confusion, nausea, amnesia, sleepiness, and nodding out for a long time.

Medetomidine is a very strong non-opioid tranquilizer – much stronger than xylazine (200x).

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It slows down breathing and your heart rate and can make overdoses longer and more complicated.

Medetomidine is potentially dangerous to the heart. The combination of fentanyl and medetomidine increases risk of overdose and can lead to significant sedation.

Overdose symptoms may last beyond administration of Naloxone.

If you have a drug that looks like this, it’s strongly recommended you get it tested before using.

Interior Health provided a list of recommendations, with the warning, for those planning to use drugs:

Find drug checking locations at drugchecking.ca
Be aware of risks if mixing with other drugs, including alcohol
Use with others around or at an Overdose Prevention Site Start with a small amount and wait before taking more
Space out your doses
Carry Naloxone and know how to use it
Get the LifeGuard App – lifeguarddh.com

by Simone Joseph | Pattison Media

BC’s Interior Health Authority out with Drug Alert following multiple overdoses in East Kootenay

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