Prince George RCMP continue investigation into teen drug overdose

Prince George RCMP said in a news release Tuesday they are advising the public that the 16-year-old who was taken to hospital last week due to a drug overdose died over the weekend.

The RCMP said this investigation is ongoing and a top priority for the Serious Crimes Unit.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young victim during this time of tragedy and loss,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

In a previous news release, the Prince George RCMP Serious Crime Unit said they began their investigation following a drug-related overdose incident that occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Frontline officers were called to a residence in the 7600 block of McMaster Crescent for a 16-year-old girl who was found unresponsive. The girl was transported to hospital by EHS where she was found to have elevated levels of fentanyl in her blood.

While adults in British Columbia are allowed to possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit substances for their own personal use and under certain conditions, the law clearly states that this is not the case for our youth. Trafficking in illicit substances (which includes selling, moving, delivering, distributing or sharing illicit substances) is an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and can result in serious consequences.

“When the actions of a drug trafficker result in a death, those consequences can escalate significantly,” said Sgt. Whitehouse, commanding officer of the Prince George RCMP Serious Crime Unit.

In Prince George, all drug-related deaths are investigated by the RCMP and the BC Coroners Service.

In this case, we also recognize the extremely high expectations the public has of the police when a young person appears to have been targeted by a fentanyl trafficker.

Police remained at the residence for most of the day as they executed a search warrant to help determine the circumstances surrounding what happened and whether criminality can be established.