In response to the ongoing toxic drug emergency in the province, a new drug alert system has been launched across Interior Health.

The health authority says the system will send text messages with timely information and up-to-date resources to people who use drugs as well as community members as a public health measure to prevent drug poisonings and deaths.

“Timely and targeted information regarding the current drug supply is vital when we are seeing the toxicity of illicit drugs increase at an alarming rate,” said Jessica Bridgeman, Interior Health sexual health and harm reduction manager.

“Alerts will help people make better informed decisions and ultimately help reduce harms, including overdose and death, from poisoned drugs.”

People can opt-in by sending the keyword ‘JOIN’ to ALERTS – 253787. IH says they get these toxic drug and drug poisoning alerts and, in the future, public health alerts, such as COVID-19 related information.

You’ll also be able to anonymously submit information relating to toxic drugs or drug poisonings via text using the keyword ‘OD’.

“The priority is to get people access to safe supply, but while we’re waiting, toxic drug alerts will be really helpful in letting us know what is going around in our communities, and can help people make harm reduction decisions for themselves,” added Sara Young, the manager of Harm Reduction at BC Centre for Disease Control.

Interior Health says it is the first health authority to be launching the new system, which is expected to expand to other health authorities this summer

“Across the province – in every community – we continue to see tragic deaths due to the toxic drug supply. The new alert system is an example of innovation and community collaboration to save lives in this crisis,” added B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Sheila Malcolmson.

There were nine more illicit drug toxicity deaths in Kamloops this past March, taking the total on the year to 25.