Interior Health medical officer Dr. Andy Delli Pizzi is urging people in Williams Lake to get their drugs tested after several non-fatal overdoses in the city.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the health authority sent out two poison drug alerts and Delli Pizzi said the drugs remain very toxic.
One alert is for a substance sold as Down which looks like a white powder and contains nitazene and no fentanyl.
The second alert is for another substance sold as Down associated with multiple overdoses. It has green/yellow crystals that are chunks.
"In the last six months there has been a further progression in the toxicity of drugs," Delli Pizzi told the Tribune. "There are synthetic opioids, different varieties and potencies."
Nitazene, he explained, is a synthetic opioid that has been in samples in B.C. for a period of years, so it is not a new substance, but it is the first time it has been detected through drug testing in Williams Lake.
"This was an important one to alert people on because it will not show up on a fentanyl test strip."
When asked if people in Williams Lake are using drug testing services, Delli Pizzi said he is worried it is being underutilized.
Aside from letting someone know what is in the drugs they are using, the drug testing service also connects people with service providers who are there to help.
"They will connect with people who will walk beside them, help them test their drugs and review options for treatment."
He said because teams in Williams Lake were responding to overdoses they had samples which were then taken to the drug testing services at Cornerstone Chemical Dependency Clinic.
"Interior Health was able to analyze those samples. That's why we issued the alert because we learned what was in the drugs."
In 2024, IH has continued to see very clear evidence of the toxic drug crisis in the Cariboo Chilcotin, which Delli Pizzi said is higher than the Interior Health average.
"The drugs remain very toxic," Delli Pizzi said. "For people who use drugs, connecting with people, family and health providers and bringing their drugs to be tested can be life saving."
No matter what the tests show, he stressed, it is still important to be careful by using drugs with someone else present, starting slow, having naloxone available and knowing how to use it.
He also suggested the Lifeguard app which can alert emergency health services if someone is overdosing and is unresponsive.
The two drug alerts remain in effect until Dec. 10 and Delli Pizzi said drug alerts are usually time-limited because the drug supply changes.
"It's really important, that even in the absence of a drug alert, that drugs can be increasingly toxic with different compositions of synthetics and opioids. People should still always take precautions."
Cornerstone is open Tuesday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
By calling or texting 250-305-4235 people can make an appointment to have their drugs tested.
"The results have to go to a central team in Interior Health who then report back," Delli Pizzi said. "There can be some turnaround time to get the results but they can be very helpful to people."
Delli Pizzi is stationed in Kamloops, but works closely with the teams in Williams Lake, he said, adding Interior Health is continuing to plan overdose prevention services for Williams Lake.
"In the spring of 2024 B.C.'s auditor general recommended expansion of high quality overdose prevention services. It's a necessary part of this response."
Community stakeholders also have Naloxone kits such as BGC Williams Lake, CMHA, local shelter (Hamilton) and Salvation Army along with All Nations Healing House and Three Corners Health.
