Dawson Creek residents are being asked to exercise extra caution when using substances after an increase in reports of overdoses, including one fatal incident, in the city.
Northern Health and the First Nations Health Authority issued the notice for the city of Dawson Creek for the period of August 23 to September 6, although this time frame can be extended, and the notice can be reissued with a higher level of urgency.
The health organizations are cautioning residents about tablets in the community that are being sold as fentanyl. Northern Health said the substances have been described as brown, gold, and beige coloured tablets.
Specific testing to identify if, and how, the tablets were tampered with is currently underway by Northern Health, who cautioned people who use drugs in Dawson Creek to be mindful if they smoke or inject it.
“The substance is highly toxic, causes heavy and prolonged sedation, and requires more naloxone to reverse,” said the regional health authority, who said they have received an increase in reported opioid poisonings, in addition to the one person who suffered from a fatal overdose.
People who use drugs are being should exercise extra precautions before they consume these substances. Northern Health recommends they use drugs with a contact who can help them if they suffer an adverse reaction, this contact can be a trusted person, or via one of the online platforms offered by the regional health authority.
They are also being reminded not to mix different kinds of substances and to avoid drinking after they have taken any drugs.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, it can be impossible to tell if a pill is fake, unless it is a prescribed medication that is picked up from a pharmacy. The centre said the person selling the drugs may not even realize the pill is fake. This inability to verify pills’ legitimacy can be resolved for people who use drugs have them tested at one of the Northern Health-run sites before taking them.
In Dawson Creek, drug testing and supervised consumption is available at the city’s temporary overdose prevention service site, which is located at the Dawson Creek Health Unit on 110 Avenue.
