Drug alert issued in Vancouver after increase in drug poisonings
Both the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) issued a drug alert on Monday.
VCH issued the alert after a “white triangular pressed tablet with imprint ‘D|D’ sold as hydromorphone (Dilaudid or ‘dilly 8’) in Vancouver tested positive for fentanyl and negative for hydromorphone.”
Hydromorphone is used to manage severe pain.
BCCDC issued its province-wide alert after finding medetomidine mixed with opioids, like fentanyl. Medetomidine is a sedative veterinarians use that can cause people’s heart rate to lower, change blood pressure, and prolong sedation.
“It can also potentially make people feel very sleepy or go unconscious, increasing the risk of drug poisoning,” BCCDC said in an information bulletin.
“Novel substances in the unregulated drug supply are putting people who use substances at greater risk.”
While there has not been an increase in deaths, they said the increase in non-fatal drug poisoning “is a cause for serious concern.”
Non-fatal drug poisoning can cause brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.
In November 2025, the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) found medetomidine in 38 per cent of opioid samples they tested.
If you are responding to drug poisoning or overdose, BCCDC recommends:
- Call 911, stay with the person, and follow instructions from the call-taker.
- In response to an opioid poisoning, follow the SAVE ME steps. Check for breathing and give breaths if the person isn’t breathing properly, since brain injury can happen within minutes without oxygen.
- Use naloxone.
- If there’s no pulse, start CPR with rescue breathing and compressions. If available, use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
For people who use substances, BCCDC recommends:
- Avoid unregulated opioids (and find drug testing services here).
- Don’t use alone (go to an overdose protection site or take turns with a buddy).
- If you use alone, download the Lifeguard Connect app, which prompts you to turn off an alarm and send a notification to BCEHS dispatch if it isn’t turned off.
- Carry and know how to use naloxone.
- Sign up for drug alerts by texting the word JOIN to 253787.