Drug poisoning on the rise in B.C., health officials warn

B.C. health officials are warning of novel substances in the illicit drug supply.

While toxic drug deaths continue to trend downward, B.C. health officials are warning that drug poisonings are rising province-wide.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says novel substances in the unregulated drug supply are putting users at greater risk of overdose.

Specifically, officials say that opioids like fentanyl are now often mixed with medetomidine, a potent veterinary sedative. The substance causes a low heart rate, changes in blood pressure and prolonged sedation, and can make people “very sleepy” or lose consciousness, according to the BCCDC.

Fraser Health medical officer Dr. Rahul Walia previously told CTV News both the rise spike in overdoses and the use of medetomidine in opioids happened quite suddenly.

“Not only are we seeing the drug medetomidine pop up more often, we’re seeing it pop up at higher concentrations in the unregulated drug supply,” he said.

“It’s approximately 200 times more potent than xylazine,” he added, referencing another sedative used by veterinarians.

Medetomidine was detected in 38 per cent of opioid samples tested by the B.C. Centre for Substance Use in November 2025.

B.C. has seen “high and increasing” overdoses treated by paramedics in recent months, the BCCDC’s harm reduction and substance use services team says.

“Non-fatal drug poisoning can cause brain injury from lack of oxygen and other harms,” the BCCDC wrote in a media release Monday. “Even though the B.C. Coroners Service data shows that deaths are not increasing, the increase in non-fatal drug poisoning is a cause for serious concern.”

The BCCDC urged people who use substances to avoid unregulated opioids, test their drugs, use at an overdose prevention site or at least not alone, and carry naloxone.

“Naloxone only works on opioids but is safe to give even if the overdose is caused by other substances like medetomidine, which is a non-opioid depressant,” officials added. “Since medetomidine is usually found with opioids, giving naloxone can restore breathing and will not cause harm.”

More information on how to help someone experiencing an overdose can be found on the Toward the Heart website. Mental health and substance use support can be found on HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Isabella Zavarise