BC sets new record for illicit drug deaths

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – More proof the opioid crisis in BC is totally out of control. New numbers released by the BC Coroners Service says 128 people died from illicit drug use in November, an average of four every day. That shatters the old record of 82 set in January 2016, and brings the total in 2016 so far to 755 which is an increase of 70.4 per cent over the same time last year.

“Fentanyl remains present in a high number of illicit drug deaths. From January 1st through October 31st — fentanyl was detected in 374 cases, about 60 per cent of all illicit drug deaths. That is almost triple the number of fentanyl-detected deaths for the same period last year,” says the coroner in a statement.

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says it’s not completely clear why the numbers are jumping so high so quickly, but they have some theories. “It may be because there has been more toxic than usual fentanyl circulating or we may be facing the terrifying possibility of carfentanil being introduced broadly into the illicit drug stream.”

Just last week, Vancouver Police confirmed that nine people died people died of an OD in just one night — eight of them in the Downtown Eastside.

With the number of deaths remaining so high, the BC Coroners Service continues to push for harm-reduction measures to be put in place for anyone who is using or may be thinking about trying drugs. “Never use alone, have naloxone and medical help readily available when using, using an overdose-prevention site or supervised-consumption site wherever possible, and knowing the signs of an overdose and calling 911 immediately,” says the coroner.

Two weeks ago the provincial government announced all licensed or registered treatment facilities in BC were directed to carry naloxone and ensure staff are trained to administer it.

Despite the province claiming it has taken steps to fix the opioid problem, not everyone agrees. Just last week, Vancouver’s police chief, fire chief and mayor held a joint news conference which called out the government for not doing enough.

VPD Chief Adam Palmer said progress had been made on the Four Pillars drug strategy that pushes for prevention, harm reduction, enforcement and treatment, but there are gaps in the system. “We are making progress on three of the four pillars but where we’re failing is treatment. There is a lot of focus right now placed on harm reduction because people’s lives are at immediate risk. The fentanyl crisis, however, is bringing a new level of urgency to address the lack of detox and treatment options available to people. We need a longer term strategy.”

In response, the province has issued a statement saying it’s doing what it can to deal with the overdose crisis. “Overdose prevention sites will continue to be set up in high-risk communities across the province. As well, we’ll continue to improve access to treatments, expand the Take Home Naloxone Program, establish additional supervised consumption services and intercept the flow of these fatal drugs onto our streets in BC.”

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said, with information received from local health authorities, about 1,300 people were using illicit opioids every day in the City of Vancouver.