Interior Health has issued a drug alert for Merritt warning of the presence of benzodiazepines in street drugs.

The alert was issued today after a recent increase in “overdoses with severe outcomes” in the Nicola Valley community.

“When drugs contain benzodiazepines there is a high risk of overdose including prolonged sedation that may not respond to naloxone,” IH said, in a statement. “It is important to give breaths and seek medical attention.”

According to the BC Coroners Service, benzodiazepines were detected in 51 per cent of overdose deaths in February 2021, compared to 15 per cent in July 2020.

The alert is urging people who drugs to avoid using different drugs at the same time and to avoid mixing it with alcohol. People are also being told to get their drugs checked and to not use alone.

Drug checking is available at ASK Wellness in Merritt located at 2196 Quilchena Avenue. Naloxone kits meanwhile are available at ASK Wellness, as well as Pharmasave at 1800 Garcia Street and the Extra Foods Pharmacy at 2760 Forksdale Avenue.

For more on the alert, go here.

We have issued an overdose alert in #Merritt. Benzos and other substances continue to circulate in the drug supply. If you use drugs don’t use alone, start low and go slow https://t.co/56Vmo33iPC pic.twitter.com/yhRHyV1XDd

— Interior Health (@Interior_Health) May 7, 2021