Pubdate: Mon, 08 Aug 2011 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Walter Cordery, Daily News; With A File From Postmedia News CORONER WARNS OF OVERDOSE SPIKE There Were Eight Heroin-Related Fatalities From January to July on The Island Though the B.C. Coroners Service is warning about a spike in drug overdose deaths on Vancouver Island, police have not noticed an increase in this area. Regional coroner Matt Brown said there were eight confirmed heroin-related fatalities from January to July on the Island with another four suspected cases awaiting toxicology test results. Police and those who try to help addicts in Nanaimo have not noticed an appreciable increase. Cpl. Ken Callaghan of the Nanaimo RCMP said the detachment has "not noticed any increase here." If the police had heard of an alarming number of drug overdose deaths because of high-potency heroin, Callaghan said the RCMP would have issued a public warning. John Hough, a board member of the Nanaimo Addiction Foundation, also hasn't heard of a spike in deaths caused by heroin. "I'm not saying it hasn't happened but the board is taking a summer hiatus and we won't know until we talk to the frontline workers who help addicts in the city," said Hough. Brown insists the number of overdoses has increased. "There's a definite spike there," he said. "The message really needs to be careful and clear that there is a risk out there and that if you're using, utilize the street nurses and those on the front lines that can provide you with some information on how to do it in a safe way." Brown said anyone who has a negative reaction to heroin, or notices someone who is having problems after injecting the drug, should seek immediate medical help. It's the second time in three months that the coroners service has expressed concern about a rise in heroin overdose deaths. The service first issued a public safety warning in May following an increase in heroin-related fatalities on the Lower Mainland. He said coroners on the Island became concerned recently that people are not getting the message. Katrina Jensen, executive director of AIDS Vancouver Island, said the situation highlights once again the need for a supervised injection site on the Island. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.