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More people have died of overdose this year than 2016 total

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The City of Vancouver estimates more people have died of an illicit drug overdose already this year than the total number recorded for 2016.

232 people have died of an overdose in the city so far in 2017, surpassing the yearly total of 231 recorded last year. Considering it is only August, the City of Vancouver estimates there will be more than 400 deaths by the end of the year.

Mayor Gregor Robertson says the rising number of deaths is heartbreaking.

“We will continue to work with the new provincial government and pour City resources into tackling this crisis. We can’t be complacent and let the number of deaths from this public health crisis be the new normal.”

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded to 102 calls for the week of August 7, slightly down from the 114 reported the week prior. On average, the City’s first responders have received 135 calls weekly in 2017.

Toxicology reports on the most recent deaths are not yet complete, and final overdose death numbers need to be confirmed by the BC Coroners Service.

Access to safer drugs needed

The BC Centre for Disease Control recently released ten recommendations to reduce the number of opioid deaths in the province.

Harm Reduction Lead Jane Buxton says one of those is to reduce stigma.

“So that people who use substances don’t feel they have to hide their use.”

She says naloxone kits have reversed 6,000 overdoses this year.

“Wihout the naloxone, some of those people would have died and some would have had brain injury.”

But she says naloxone is only really a band-aid, and people with chronic pain need access to safe drugs.

“People who are using opioids chronically need help, they need to be able to have access to substances that are not adulterated with such dangerous substances like fentanyl.”

Buxton says we also need to address the root causes of drug use and overdoses.

“A lot of this is around homeless and poverty and not being able to work.”

Other recommendations include expanding addiction treatment and peer engagement programs, as well as supporting appropriate pain management therapies.

 

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