Interior Health has issued a drug alert for Nelson after substances with high amounts of fentanyl, benzodiazepines and xylazine have been found in the community.
The health authority said the substance looks like red or pink chunks and is being sold as down, dope or fentanyl.
Officials said the substance has a significantly higher-than-average concentration of fentanyl and benzodiazepine and is very likely to produce overdose symptoms.
Xylazine comes with risks as well.
“Xylazine use is associated with abscesses and other skin ulcerations that do not heal on their own, often becoming infected and complicated,” said IH officials. “Naloxone will not reverse the effects of xylazine, but will counteract opioids found within these substances. Current harm reduction advice when using substances that contain xylazine are to use as little as possible and with caution.”
Officials advise getting substances checked before using.
The alert is in effect until Dec 25.
More details can be found on the poster below.
