Prince George, B.C. –  The RCMP continue to  investigate the source of  opioid which sparked 5 overdoses in Prince George in a 24 hour period last week.

All five  people recovered from their overdose experience and  while fentanyl  has not been confirmed as  being the cause  of the  rash of  overdoses,  having so many in such a short period of time  caused Northern Health to issue an  advisory  about the potential for the  extremely strong  synthetic narcotic to be  in the  community.

Fentanyl has been blamed as  a factor in the overdose deaths of  two people in Dawson Creek earlier this year as well as several  overdose deaths in the lower mainland.

Today is  International Overdose Awareness Day  and Provincial Minister of Health, Terry Lake,  says it is a timely opportunity , to  let  people know about the  dangers of using  illicit drugs  and the services  offered in B.C. to assist those with drug addictions reduce their risks.

Lake says there are more than 300 harm-reduction  distribution sites throughout B.C. to ensure  users have sterile syringes.

“People who may be at risk of an opioid overdose are also urged to seek out take-home naloxone training and kits, accessible at many harm-reduction sites. Since 2012, B.C. has provided overdose-response training and take-home naloxone kits at no cost.”

Naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose of an opioid drug, such as heroin, morphine, fentanyl or oxycodone. To date,
the program has reversed more than 260 overdoses; nearly 3,000 kits have been distributed and more than 4,500 people trained, including people who use opioids, their friends and family, and service providers.

He also  urges those who  use illicit drugs to ensure they  have someone with them who can spot the signs of an overdose and  call 9-1-1 should  that be warranted.

“Using illicit drugs will always present risks, but steps can be taken to prevent overdoses and other dangers”   says Lake.