Interior Health issued a region-wide drug alert for a substance being sold as Dilaudid/Hydromorphone that has a very high overdose risk (photo courtesy of Interior Health)

By Liam Verster

As Or More Potent Than Fentanyl

High risk opioid results in Interior-wide drug alert

Nov 14, 2023 | 4:10 PM

Interior Health is warning of a toxic drug found throughout the region.

IH issued a drug alert Tuesday, Nov. 14, for a substance that is being sold as 8mg Dilaudid or Hydromorphone tablets, commonly referred to as Dillies.

Laboratory testing has shown the substance to be five per cent Isotonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is equally or more potent than fentanyl, and the tablets have a very high risk of overdose.

With that five per cent concentration, the tablets could be 20 times stronger than real Dilaudid/Hydromorphone.

The health authority warns that the only way to be sure a tablet is genuine is to get it directly from a pharmacists.

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IH advises people have their drugs checked before use, take only a small amount to start, do not mix with any other substances including alcohol, and to use at an overdose prevention site.

The Drug Alert will remain in place until Nov. 21.