Fentanyl-laced cocaine warning issued by Delta Police after overdoses

Delta Police say two people have been treated inhospital after using cocaine and inadvertently overdosing onfentanyl.

Police say it's likely the cocaine was cut with fentanyl, arespiratory depressant that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted whencut with other drugs.

"There's certainly been a couple of overdoses over the last year or so," said Acting Sgt. Sarah Swallow. "Again none of them were fatal but certainly a couple of overdoses that can possibly be linked tofentanylin some way."

"But this is the first time that we've seen two in such a short period of time with both people saying they've taken the same drug."

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While it's not known where the cocaine was obtained, policebelieve it's likely circulating in the South Delta area.

Officers are reminding the public that there's no control overany illegal drug and users may not be ingesting the substance theyintend to take with potentially fatal consequences.

Early symptoms of a fentanyl overdose can include severesleepiness, slow heartbeat, trouble breathing, cold, clammy skin andtrouble walking or talking.

Police say while abstinence from drugs is the best choice, anyonewho uses illegal substances shouldn't do it alone and should call911 if they see anyone with overdose symptoms.