Interior Health has issued a Drug Poisoning Overdose Alert in Williams Lake and areas, today [Nov. 8]
A rise in fatal and non-fatal overdoses led to the Alert being issued, and is in effect until November 15.
“In the Williams Lake area, the number of deaths exceeded the number that we would expect,” Dr. Silvina Mema of Interior Health says. “For that reason we believe that there is poisonous drugs circulating, and people using them could be at risk of death.”
Dr. Mema urge people Users to be “extra vigilant” and take more precautions such as getting drugs checked, beware of mixing drugs, space out doses as much as possible, do not use drugs alone, and only one person use at a time so someone can respond in case of an overdose and emergency.
Users, and friends and family of users are urged to carry and get trained on how to use a Naloxone, a fast-acting medication that when used can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses to prevent an overdose from occurring, saving lives.
“It’s a medication that doesn’t cause dependence, and doesn’t create or give somebody a high,” Dr. Mema says. “It displaces the opioid from the receptors and blocks the effects of opioids. The person will experience a sudden withdrawal where all the opiates in the system will be removed by the Naloxone, and it allows them to regain consciousness, and more importantly start breathing again.”
“It’s very important that people who know somebody in their social circles and neighbourhoods are using opioids, that they carry Naloxone and are aware on how to use it.”
Dr. Mema adds that Naloxone kits are available at pharmacies across Williams Lake, and a place to get drugs checked for added and poisonous substances is the Cornerstone Chemical Dependency Clinic located on 4th Avenue S. The clinic checks drugs for toxicity every Wednesday and Thursday.
Information on how to use and where to get a Naloxone kits can also be found at Interior Health, as well as on their website.
“The toxic drug emergency is an ongoing emergency,” Dr. Mema says. “We are seeing people die from toxic drugs across the Interior. We’re seeing a spike now in Williams Lake which is why we issued this alert.”
Interior Health urges friends and families of drug users to reach out to help for the loved ones in need, and to call 2-1-1 or visit bc211.ca to find services and more information.
In the case of an emergency, call the Crisis Response line at (250)302-8496.
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