VCH officials say opioid overdoses spiked recently, related to toxic additives

Vancouver Coastal Health says that Fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs that make it more deadly.

VCH Addiction program director Keith Ahamad says that there has been an uptick in overdoses, mainly after users take substances being cut with benzodiazepines. The drug, commonly used in anti-anxiety medication, works the same way that alcohol decreases breathing. The problem is that opioids do that too, in different ways.

Mixing drugs like fentanyl and benzodiazepines is especially harmful. While naloxone might counteract the effects of the opioids, it doesn’t work on the synthetic additives.

Guest: Dr Peter Klakowicz

Family and addiction medicine doctor at St Paul’s Hospital and in the community in Vancouver

Vancouver Coastal Health says that Fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs that make it more deadly.

VCH Addiction program director Keith Ahamad says that there has been an uptick in overdoses, mainly after users take substances being cut with benzodiazepines. The drug, commonly used in anti-anxiety medication, works the same way that alcohol decreases breathing. The problem is that opioids do that too, in different ways.

Mixing drugs like fentanyl and benzodiazepines is especially harmful. While naloxone might counteract the effects of the opioids, it doesn’t work on the synthetic additives.

Guest: Dr Peter Klakowicz

Family and addiction medicine doctor at St Paul’s Hospital and in the community in Vancouver