Pubdate: Sat, 26 Nov 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Sarah Petrescu
Page: A1

DRUG DEATHS PROMPT URGENT WARNING

Seven die in week; drugs on street more potent than ever, Island
Health says

Island Health issued an urgent warning to illicit drug users Friday
after seven overdose deaths this week.

Five of those people died in Victoria within a 72-hour period in
locations ranging from homes to social housing to shelters, the health
authority said.

"The drugs on the street are more potent and dangerous than they have
ever been before," said chief medical officer Dr. Richard Stanwick.

"Do not use alone. Please, have someone around who is willing and able
to seek help if an overdose happens."

Island Health is warning users of all kinds of drugs - injection,
inhalation, snorting, smoking or consuming with alcohol. Stanwick said
most of the overdose cases involved injection drugs.

Users are directed to test with small doses and to have overdose
response materials such as the antidote naloxone on hand.

If someone witnesses an overdose, they should call 911, check for
breathing, provide rescue breaths and find someone with a naloxone
kit.

Stanwick said vulnerable, street-entrenched users are at particular
risk, whether they are housed or staying in shelters. The health
authority noted social assistance cheques were issued this week and
that the weekend has arrived - two high-risk times for overdoses.

Frontline staff and community service providers have been warned about
the surge in overdoses and Island Health said it, "continues to work
with community service providers to further increase outreach and
overdose response capacity."

Stanwick said it is ironic that overdose deaths spiked at the same
time as public consultations about three proposed supervised
consumption sites took place around the city this week.

"November may be the worse month yet for us and for B.C.," he said.
 From January to October this year there were a record-breaking 622
overdose deaths in B.C., with 120 on Vancouver Island and 51 in
Victoria. "It's at the point where there are so many 911 calls for
overdoses, other calls are affected," he said.

Many of the overdoses involve the powerful, deadly opioid
fentanyl.

Stanwick said the new strains of stronger, deadlier opioids causing
more overdoses and deaths in Vancouver are frightening, as "what
happens on the mainland tends to make its way here," he said.

B.C. Ambulance paramedics in Victoria were issued a warning this week
about the possibility of a spike in overdoses.

"We have recently learned from the Vancouver Police Department that a
new batch of opioids has hit the streets.

"This batch is particularly potent and has resulted in an
extraordinary high numbers of overdoses in the Vancouver area, which
has significantly impacted their ability to respond to calls," said a
memo sent to paramedics Tuesday by Lance Stephenson, director of
patient care delivery for Island districts.

"Based on all the information we are getting, it appears that
carfentanil is now being distributed in the Lower Mainland, which may
be why we are seeing such a spike in the numbers of overdoses over the
last week.

"I anticipate it will be just a matter of time before we see
carfentanil hit the Island - specifically Victoria and Nanaimo."

The province announced Friday B.C. paramedics will receive an
additional $5 million of funding to respond to the overdose crisis
with increased staffing and ambulance resources.

Between Nov. 17 and 23, Greater Victoria paramedics have responded to
31 overdose and poisoning incidents, B.C. Emergency Health Services
said in a statement Friday.

"Victoria paramedics are caring for more suspected overdose patients
than ever before."

It is not yet confirmed that fentanyl or any other opioids were
involved in this week's overdose deaths as toxicology results are pending.
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MAP posted-by: Matt