Interior Health declares Toxic Drug Alert in Nelson area

The Interior Health Authority has issued a Toxic Drug Alert for the Nelson area.

The warning, made public late Friday through social media, warns of the potential mixing of Carfentanil into some of the unregulated supply in the region.

Sold in light pink pebbles as either Down, Dope, or Fentanyl, IH contends the opioid is 50 to 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Besides a one percent consistency of Carfentanil, officials say the pebbles are also believed to have five percent Bromazolam, 12 percent Desalkylgidazepam, and eight percent Zylazine, normally used as a tranquilizer.

The concern from the health authority is for the extreme risk of overdose.

Symptoms, which can turn fatal, include amnesia, sleepiness, or nodding out over a long period of time.

Detailed information on the product can be found by clicking on the link below:

https://www.interiorhealth.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/nelson-drug-alert-june-13-2025.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawK6V0FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvVkhXNTR0a1RMbzc3SXdXAR7JNnoftxu3KPUe_pIujNiOFUtkq5TpliIwqYMuj9KvTm41pJ6EcuSqzmCgBg_aem_dOPiqqnNGSgoTMynPfn2bQ

The drug alert will remain in effect until June 20, 2025.