Deadly overdoses on the rise in BC
Posted May 12, 2016 2:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The number of deadly overdoses in BC is still on the rise even though the province has declared the situation a public health emergency. The chief provincial health officer expects it will take time to make a dent in the problem, which is being linked to the prevalence of the powerful opioid fentanyl.
An update from the BC Coroner’s Services shows the province is still averaging 64 overdose deaths per month so far this year, up from 40 per month last year. More than one in three of these deaths were caused by fentanyl. The majority are still happening in the Lower Mainland, but no community has been spared.
The public health emergency was declared less than one month ago. BC recorded more than 200 overdose deaths in the first three months of the year, putting the province on pace to see over 800 by year’s end.
Chief Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall says they need more time to collect data. “I didn’t really anticipate that the numbers would start coming down because we’ve only just started collecting the increased data which will guide our responses. I’m hoping that we will be able to increase our responses, or target our responses and that in future months we’ll see lower numbers.”
He says they are noticing more awareness though in emergency rooms, among doctors and the general public. Dr. Kendall says more emergency room staff are collecting better data and family doctors are reaching for treatments like the anti-dote naloxone and making sure addicts and their families have access.
The work doesn’t stop there. Dr. Kendall says there are a number of other initiatives underway.
“Beginning of June, we’re going to have a consultation. We’re calling it the best brains exchange. We’re getting addictions specialists, law enforcement, the coroner’s office, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Pharmacists, WorkSafeBC, representatives from Doctors of BC, academics to come together for a day to talk about this is what we’re doing. Are there other things we could do and what should they be?”
He says they’ll release the report once responses are compiled.
