Deadly street drug combination threatening lives in B.C.
As drug overdose deaths continue to rise in B.C., the Northern Health region has put out an alert about the risks of opioids containing benzodiazepines, or so-called benzos.
Benzos are described in the alert from the health authority as a medication that depresses or slows down brain activity so when combined with opioids, it increases the risk of overdoses.
“Individuals who have overdosed using drugs contaminated with benzodiazepines (or benzos) may be difficult to rouse and slow to respond to naloxone," the alert states.
It suggests calling 911, opening airways and giving rescue breaths along with naloxone to help people suspected of overdosing in this way.
While this alert was issued by the Northern Health Authority today, June 18, Vancouver Coastal Health put out a poster in late May warning the use of opioids (also known as down) with benzos “can cause blackouts and memory loss and may increase the risk of overdose.”
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