New single-day record for paramedic calls to B.C. drug poisonings, stats show – CBC

Officials say medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, is being mixed into illicit drugs and increasing risks

Jan 26, 2026

Health officials are warning that drug poisonings are on the rise across B.C., with a new single-day record for most drug poisonings attended by paramedics being set last week.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has issued a province-wide drug alert, noting new substances in the unregulated drug supply are putting people at risk province-wide.

It said medetomidine, used primarily by veterinarians to sedate animals, is now being mixed with opioids like fentanyl.

Alexis Crabtree, a public health physician with BCCDC, says doctors are concerned about life-threatening effects when the drug is mixed with fentanyl.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/drug-poisoning-warning-medetomidine-9.7062204