Interior Health issues street drug alert for Penticton

Interior Health has issued a street drug alert for Penticton, B.C.

According to the health agency, a drug being sold as Down contains a strong synthetic opioid called Nitazene.

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Consuming the drug, which is a white, flaky substance, carries a high risk of overdosing or fatally overdosing. Amnesia, sleepiness and nodding out for a long time are also possibilities.

“Fentanyl was not present despite this being the expected substance,” Interior Health said in its warning, posted on Monday.

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It also suggests using drugs with others around, or at an overdose prevention site if it’s available in your community.

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