Police in Merritt say there’s been an increase in the number of calls for service regarding potential overdoses.

During the first three months of this year, there have been 21 such calls to BC Emergency Health Services, compared to 56 in all of 2020.

“In a recent case, our responding officers have used naloxone to save a life but despite our efforts, we know that some overdoses are resulting in fatalities,” Staff Sgt. Major Stephan Drouin said, in a statement.

The Unit Chief of Merritt’s ambulance station, Cathy Lof, says paramedic crews are seeing the devastating effects of the opioid crisis on the community.

“We recognize the impact of these overdoses and the devastating losses across the whole community,” she noted, asking people to not use alone. “If paramedics are called to respond to a patient overdosing they have a 95 per cent chance of survival.”

Interior Health’s Interim Vice-President of Clinical Operations Roger Parsonage also noted the increase in overdose calls in the Merritt area.

“We continue to see unusual drug checking results and particularly the presence of benzodiazepines and illicit fentanyl,” he said. “Interior Health provides drug checking services in Merritt through ASK Wellness. Along with regular drug checking, full spectrum checking is available at ASK through a visiting FTIR machine, which uses infrared light to detect a large number of substances

People are also being encouraged to download the Lifeguard app on their phone which will call for medical help if people are unresponsive after using drugs.

At this time, it’s not clear if the increase in calls is due to potentially lethal batches of drugs circulating in the Merritt community or if people are using drugs in an unsafe manner.

“It is important that if you or someone you witness may be overdosing to please call 9-1-1 immediately for medical assistance,” Drouin added.

“We are also asking for public assistance to help curve this alarming issue, if you know anyone who may be selling illegal and harmful drugs in our community, please call police or Crime Stoppers.”