Overdose calls surge in Penticton as new tranquilizer emerges in drug supply

published on June 2, 2026 by Tiffany Goodwein in CBC News

The fire chief of Penticton, B.C., says overdose calls have skyrocketed in recent months as a new drug has emerged in the small South Okanagan community.

Last year, the fire department responded to 32 overdose calls in the first three months of the year. This year, it’s responded to 187 calls in the same period.

“The 484 per cent increase is alarming to us and it is definitely taxing on our resources,” said fire Chief Mike Larsson.

He said the sharp jump in calls is taking away from the department’s ability to adequately respond to other incidents such as structure fires and vehicle crashes.

Part of the challenge, he said, is a new drug that hit the streets called medetomidine. It’s typically used as a tranquilizer in veterinary medicine and is naloxone-resistant…