The BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) Harm Reduction and Substance Use Services Team is warning the public of a recent increase in drug poisonings across BC. Novel substances in the unregulated drug supply are putting people who use substances at greater risk province-wide.
Opioids like fentanyl are now often mixed with medetomidine, a potent sedative used primarily by veterinarians, that can cause low heart rate (bradycardia), changes to blood pressure and prolonged sedation. It can also potentially make people feel very sleepy or go unconscious, increasing the risk of drug poisoning. As a response, BCCDC has issued a
province-wide drug alert.
BC has experienced high and increasing paramedic-attended overdoses in recent months. At the same time, detections of medetomidine have increased in drug checking samples and law enforcement seizures. Medetomidine was detected in 38 per cent of opioid samples tested by the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) in November 2025.
Non-fatal drug poisoning can cause brain injury from lack of oxygen and other harms. Even though the BC Coroners Service data shows that deaths are not increasing, the increase in non-fatal drug poisoning is a cause for serious concern.
If you are responding to a drug poisoning or overdose event:
- Call 9-1-1
- A drug poisoning or overdose is a medical emergency.
- Stay with the person and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call-taker.
- Follow the SAVE ME steps to respond to an opioid poisoning (overdose).
- Check for breathing and give breaths if the person is not breathing normally.
- Brain injury can happen within minutes without oxygen. Giving breaths provides oxygen until the person can breathe on their own.
- Use naloxone
- Naloxone only works on opioids but is safe to give even if the overdose is caused by other substances like medetomidine, which is a non-opioid depressant. Since medetomidine is usually found with opioids, giving naloxone can restore breathing and will not cause harm.
- If at any time there is no pulse, start CPR with rescue breathing and compressions.
- Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available.
If you use substances, there are things you can do to be safer:
- The safest option is to avoid unregulated opioids, as they may contain medetomidine. Ask a health care provider about opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and use drug checking services.
- Don’t use alone. Visit an overdose prevention site or take turns with a buddy so there is someone who can respond in the event of an emergency.
- If you do use alone, consider using the Connect app by Lifeguard. It prompts you to turn off an alarm and sends a notification to BCEHS dispatch if you don’t.
- Carry naloxone and know how to use it.
- Sign up for drug alerts by texting the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).
- Visit Toward the Heart for additional resources, including:
- Visit Help Starts Here for mental health and substance use supports
- Resources for harm reduction sites:
The BC Centre for Disease Control, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, provides public health leadership through surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention and consultation services. The Centre provides diagnostic and treatment services for people with diseases of public health importance, and analytical and policy support to all levels of government and health authorities. The BCCDC also provides health promotion and prevention services to reduce the burden of chronic disease, preventable injury and environmental health risks. For more, visit bccdc.ca or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) provides specialized health care services and programs to communities across British Columbia, the territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured this land for all time, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlil̓w̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations on whose unceded and ancestral territory our head office is located. We work in partnership with other B.C. health authorities and the provincial government to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca or follow us @phsa.bc.
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Media Contact:
Heather Amos
Communications Manager
BC Centre for Disease Control
Provincial Health Services Authority
heather.amos@bccdc.ca
778-984-1301
PHSA Media line: 778-867-7472
