Addictions

For the first time in recent memory, a month went by when no one in the Kootenay-Boundary died from toxic drugs.

For the second straight month, no one died due to toxic drugs in the East Kootenay in April.

According to the BC Coroners Service, there were five deaths in the West Kootenay-Boundary and two in the East Kootenay.

Toxic drug deaths in B.C. dropped slightly in January, but the Kootenay Boundary saw one of the highest rates per capita in the province.

Figures released Thursday showed 33 deaths in the West Kootenay-Boundary and 15 in the East Kootenay. Both numbers were down from the previous year.

Interior Health has issued a drug alert for the entire region after several samples of substances sold as down, dope, tranq or fentanyl that were found to contain medetomidine, up to 15 per cent, in addition to carfentanil and benzodiazepines.

Cranbrook community and health services have issued an overdose alert after they've seen a surge in overdoses with symptoms of intense sedation, confusion, disorientation and hallucination.

Access Central, a clinical phone line that helps adults get support for addictions is now available in the Interior Health region.

A BC Coroners Service round-up of statistics relating to unregulated drug deaths showed our area was the only part of the province where no one died that month.

Interior Health has issued a drug alert for Cranbrook for light green chunks or flakes sold as Down.

Interior Health has issued a drug alert for Cranbrook for light pink pebble sold as Down.

The latest preliminary BC Coroners Service report says four Kootenay residents died from drug poisoning in April.