Interior Health issues overdose warning for fake tablet with drug more potent than fentanyl

Interior Health has issued a health advisory for a street drug that contains a very high overdose risk.

According to the health agency, the eight-milligram pill looks like a hydromorphone tablet or a dilaudid tablet.

However, the drug contains five per cent isotonitazene, which Interior Health says is equally or more potent than fentanyl.

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“Isotonitazene is equally or more potent than fentanyl,” said IH. “This means that these fake tablets may be 20-plus times stronger than real dilaudid or hydromorphone tablets.”

Interior Health says the only way to ensure a tablet is genuine is to get it directly from a pharmacist, or have it drug-checked.

More information about the drug crisis is available on Interior Health’s website.