Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

Warning issued by Kelowna RCMP after 5 people die from overdose in 9 hours

Mounties in Kelowna and West Kelowna attended three calls for drug overdoses on Saturday which ended in five deaths over nine hours.

This has prompted a warning about practicing safe usage.

The first call came in just after 8 am when the BC Ambulance Service attended the scene of an overdose in the 800 block of Saucier Avenue.

Police officers attended the scene and found a 32-year-old man who died while in bed.

Over the course of the day, officers in Kelowna and West Kelowna responded to two more calls for overdose.

Unfortunately, these calls ended with four more deaths.

<who> Photo Credit: BCEHS

In a statement, the RCMP say they are concerned and warn the public that more overdoses are possible.

They encourage anyone who is engaged in substance use to practice safely.

“Overdose deaths are preventable and we have the tools we need to stop people from dying from drugs,” said Cst. Mike Della-Paolera.

However, Okanagan mounties offer additional tips for those who use drugs, including:

  • Be prepared by using a supervised consumption site

  • Do not use alone; make a plan and use a buddy system

  • Test it before you ingest it

  • Carry Naloxone, a critical tool that reverses an overdose, should be accessible to everyone.

  • Spread awareness to keep people safe



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to news@kelownanow.com.



Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Tue
19℃

weather-icon
Wed
15℃

weather-icon
Thu
10℃

weather-icon
Fri
8℃

weather-icon
Sat
8℃

weather-icon
Sun
9℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy