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Drug alerts issued in Vernon

On May 23, 2025, Interior Health issued alerts to Vernon residents about two substances resembling red pebbles and pink chunks marketed as down that contain dangerous chemicals.
The alerts followed testing that found multiple samples contained medetomidine, xylazine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, with up to two percent medetomidine and a 92 percent fentanyl concentration equivalent.
Medetomidine acts as a non-opioid tranquilizer stronger than xylazine and suppresses respiration and cardiovascular function, while fentanyl effects respond to naloxone but medetomidine effects do not.
Interior Health emphasizes that inhaling drugs carries risks comparable to injecting. They encourage individuals to test their substances using available test strips or checking services and suggest using drugs slowly and in the presence of others who can assist in case of an overdose.
The alerts indicate an extreme overdose risk from these drugs, including the possibility of fatal overdose, complicated by medetomidine's effects that may cause long-lasting symptoms resistant to naloxone.

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