With numbers from Interior Health showing 20 per cent of illicit drug overdoses occurring in people who identify as First Nations, Secwepmc elders and chiefs in B.C. 's Interior have declared a state of emergency over the fentanyl crisis. The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (SNTC) chiefs are calling on the First Nations Health Council, RCMP and Interior Health to work with them to battle drug overdoses in their communities. Splatsin First Nations Chief Wayne Christian wants to see more support for Indigenous communities affected by the fentanyl crisis in B.C. (Shuswap Tribal Council)Christian says Interior Health has done a great job of getting information about fentanyl to the public, but he wants to make sure more people are aware if it.

Source: CBC News March 10, 2017 22:04 UTC