COPS FEAR BAD HEROIN COULD MAKE WAY TO KAMLOOPS

A toxic heroin scare in Kelowna has raised alarm bells with RCMP and
social agencies in Kamloops, who want to prevent any deaths in the
city's drug community.

"For the intravenous drug users here in town, they should be very
cautious," Staff Sgt. Grant Learned said during a press conference
Wednesday.

Mounties in Kelowna issued a warning about toxic heroin that could be
circulating in that city after two sudden deaths were reported in as
many days.

Const. Steve Holmes said police were called to a home Tuesday morning
and found a 24-year-old man dead. That was after officers responded to
a call at another home on Monday and found a 21-year-old man dead in
his bed.

Small amounts of heroin were found at each location and have been sent
for analysis, he said. Holmes asked people in the Kelowna drug
community to be careful about the types of substances they're using
and the people selling them to prevent future tragedies.

Drug routes from Kelowna to Kamloops are prevalent given the close
proximity between the cities, said Learned. That means there's a
distinct possibility the heroin could make it here.

"On that ground alone, anyone who is a frequent user or any user of
heroin should be taking extreme care to know where it came from before
they decide to use it," he said.

There is nothing to suggest the drug has made its way to Kamloops. If
it does, Bob Hughes and his staff at ASK Wellness will know about it.

Hughes, ASK's executive director, said his clients and staff are
always up to date on what is going on at street level.

"We usually hear pretty quickly. We've got people who give us a heads
up on what's in town," he said.

That was the case in 2010 when a bad batch of crack cocaine killed two
people in Kamloops. The casualties prompted police and street nurses
to ask users to avoid the drug for a time.

Staff with ASK will make a similar request should the heroin arrive,
said Hughes.

Also concerned is Kelly Rowe, executive director for the New Life
Mission. His staff will also warn clientele if the drug hits the
streets here.

"We usually get notices through the grapevine, but we haven't heard
anything yet," said Rowe, adding notices will be put up at the mission
when it does.

"It's something we'll be talking to clients about in the day room."