Fentanyl suspected as drug overdoses spike in Prince George

Drug users in Prince George are being warned about a dramatic spike in overdoses, after 13 were reported in just one week.

• Greater Victoria sees 8 suspected drug overdose deaths in a week
• Victoria drug overdose victim's father blames drug dealers
• Vancouver drug overdose death toll rises to 4 within last 24 hours

"It's very concerning for us obviously that drug users are overdosing at such an alarming rate," said Cpl. Craig Douglass with Prince George RCMP.

While there have been no reports of fatalities, officials say the recent rash of overdoses is unusually high and they suspect Fentanyl is to blame.

But they won't know for sure until the toxicology results come back.

There were two overdoses on Tuesday and almost half a dozen on Christmas Eve, promptingRCMPto visita homeless shelter to warn people of the dangers.

Vern Knot, 46, stays at theKetsoYoh homeless shelter in downtown Prince George and is also blaming the overdoses on drug dealers diluting heroin with Fentanyl.

"I value my life, I'm not just going to throw it away for a high," said Knot, who says he uses crack, but avoids heroin and Fentanyl.

Knot nearly lost a friend because of an overdose last week.

"One of my bros just OD'd last week, they got him to the hospital in time," he said, but one of his friends in Vancouver did not get help in time.

"I just lost one of my street sisters. She got out of a treatment, she got a whack, she passed away," he said.

He says his friend was one of the four deaths that happened aroundDec 23 in Vancouver.

To hear the full interview click on the audio labelledFentanyl suspected as drug overdoses spike in Prince George on the CBC's Daybreak North.