UPDATED: Alert issued in Okanagan over 9 suspected overdose deaths

There were nine suspected drug overdose deaths over a five-day period last week, according to Interior Health.

On Monday morning, B.C. Coroners Service confirmed an additional two suspected overdose-related deaths.

The health authority had issued a warning on Friday after seven deaths in less than four days were thought to be caused by overdoses.

The IH region covers the Okanagan, Similkameen, West Kootenays, Thompson and Shuswap regions of British Columbia.

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Those who thinking about taking drugs are urged to reconsider.

Other tips from the Interior Health Authority to reduce the risk include:

• Don’t mix different drugs (including pharmaceutical medications, street drugs, and alcohol).
• Don’t take drugs when you are alone. Leave your door unlocked. Tell someone to check on you.
• Use less and pace yourself. Do testers to check strength – take a small sample of a drug before taking your usual dosage.
• Keep an eye out for your friends – stay together and look out for each other.
• Carry a Naloxone kit and know how to use it.
• Recognize the signs of an overdose: slow or no breathing, gurgling or gasping, lips/fingertips turning blue, difficult to rouse (awaken), non-responsive.
• If someone thinks they may be having an overdose or is witnessing an overdose, call 911. Follow SAVE ME steps on someone unresponsive.

More than 1,200 people died in B.C. in 2017 from suspected illicit drug overdoses.