Fluorofentanyl, benzos and medetomidine contaminate Penticton drug supply

Published 4:11 pm Friday, September 11, 2026

A mix of drugs, including fentanyl and variations, has been detected in the drug supply in Penticton with a very high risk of overdose, according to a recent warning from Interior Health.

Drugs being sold as down, dope, tranq and outright as fentanyl have been tested and found to have been mixed with medetomidine and benzodiazepines, while other samples have tested positive for fluorofentanyl.

Benzos and medetomidine are not affected by Naloxone.

Medetomidine is 200 times stronger than xylazine and can slow both a person’s breathing and their heart rate, with Inteiro Health warning that it can have serious effects on the heart.

The combination of drugs can also lead to dizziness, confusion, nausea, amnesia, sleepiness, and significant sedation that can last beyond the application of naloxone.

The drugs tested and being warned about came in all colours and were found as chunks, pebbles and powders.

Find drug checking services near you at drugchecking.ca, and find local substance use services by dialling 310-MHSU (6478).

The Penticton Overdose Prevention Society can also be contacted at 250-274-2110.

Interior Health also offers a Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) clinic with a full range of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), including buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone), methadone, and slow-release oral morphine (SROM / Kadian).

The VAM clinic is virtual, meaning appointments will take place over the phone, no matter where an individual is located in the Interior Health region.

If you need help managing prescribed opioid agonist therapy (OAT), supervised consumption, overdose prevention, supervised withdrawal from alcohol, or counselling, people are asked to contact their nearest Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use centre at 310-MHSU.

Interior Health also advises the following tips for safer drug use:

*Be aware of risks if mixing with other drugs, including alcohol

* Use with others around or at an Overdose Prevention Site

* Start with a small amount and wait before taking more

* Space out your doses

* Carry naloxone and know how to use it

* Call 211 or visit bc211.ca to find services near you

* Get the LifeGuard App – lifeguarddh.com