Alert issued following multiple overdoses in Kelowna

Health officials are warning about street drugs after multiple overdoses in Kelowna.

Interior Health said a substance found in these cases was a drug being sold as “Down.” It tested and found to contain fentanyl, medetomidine, and benzodiazepine.

Medetomidine is an anesthetic and sedative, while benzodiazapines are a tranquilizer and sedative. The latter substance can negate the effectiveness of Naloxone.

“The effects of these drugs, alone or combined together are unpredictable and increase the risk of overdose,” Interior Health said in its drug alert.