Fentanyl overdoses suspected in 2 deaths in South Okanagan

Police in the South Okanagan are concerned after a rash of suspected fentanyl-related overdoses this month.

Two people died and seven people were hospitalized after overdosing on what RCMP suspect is fentanyle — a potent painkiller that is more than 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Penticton RCMP suspect that marijuana may have been laced with the drug. 

"Some marijuana was brought to us and we've sent that for analysis to see if it has fentanyl on it," said Corporal Shawn Hall with the Penticton RCMP. 

Officers aren't sure if this is part of a bigger problem.

"It could be that someone laced a certain amount of it or a huge quantity or it is isolated," said Hall. 

He says one person in Oliver suspected of overdosing on fentanyl admitted to smoking marijuana. But it's not clear if the marijuana was laced or whether it was smoked in combination with other drugs. 

Police and health authorities issued a warning to drug users. 

"All substance use carries an inherent risk to a person. The risk is even greater with street drugs because you never know what they may contain. Often street drugs have been mixed with other substances and that can have serious consequences for the user," said Jeff Walsh, harm reduction coordinator with Interior Health.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled Fentanyl-related overdoses in South Okanagan on CBC's Daybreak Kamloops.