Pubdate: Sat, 17 Dec 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Andrea Woo
Page: A4

B.C. SEES 13 OVERDOSE DEATHS IN SINGLE DAY

Thirteen British Columbians died of illicit drug overdoses on
Thursday, including nine in the city of Vancouver alone - the latest
grim statistics in a worsening crisis that has emergency officials and
Vancouver's mayor issuing an urgent call for more treatment options.

In comparison, the city has averaged about 15 fatal overdoses a month
so far this year, with authorities investigating 160 deaths as of Nov.
30, according to the city's police chief.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Chief Adam Palmer held a joint
news conference Friday in which they lauded efforts to expand
life-saving harm-reduction services such as supervised-injection
sites, but said they also need the provincial government to invest in
significant longer-term treatment options.

"We want better co-ordination and proper resourcing to ensure that
detox and treatment help is available right away," Chief Palmer said.
"We want a long-term health plan that does more than just revive
people temporarily and sends them back into the streets to continue
with their addiction. We want treatment on demand."

The police chief then told a story of Constable Linda Malcolm, a
veteran police officer in the Downtown Eastside, recently being
approached by a heroin user asking for help.

"She began looking for a detox facility; however, there was nothing
available," Chief Palmer said.

"Officer Malcolm was told space would not be available for nine days.
Nine days. You lose the window to help within hours. Nine days is an
eternity."

Vancouver police said eight of Thursday's overdose deaths occurred in
the Downtown Eastside. The BC Coroners Service has so far confirmed
that there were at least six in the span of eight hours, but that
another two in the same area and same time frame are suspected to be
drug-related.

In the first 10 months of the year, 622 people died of illicit drug
overdoses in B.C. That figure is already the highest annual death toll
in 30 years of recordkeeping, and it is expected to surpass 750 by
year's end. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been detected
in 60 per cent of this year's deaths to date; carfentanil, an even
more toxic opioid that has since been detected in four provinces, is
suspected in another recent surge in overdoses.

November's numbers, to be announced on Monday, are expected to be
particularly grim.

In a joint statement, B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake and Public
Safety Minister Mike Morris highlighted the province's most recent
efforts to address the crisis, such as establishing a mobile medical
unit in the Downtown Eastside to respond to overdoses and opening a
number of "overdose prevention sites."

"However, there is also significant work taking place on the
longer-term solutions required to ensure we have a more co-ordinated
and accessible system of care for addictions treatment," the statement
said. This includes opening 500 substance-use beds by the end of
March, despite them having been a provincial campaign promise nearly
four years ago.

Vancouver is also home to a number of progressive, second-line
addiction treatment options, such as heroin-assisted treatment and
hydromorphone substitution for heroin addiction.

But there have been no set plans to expand these interventions despite
B.C.'s top health officials having advocated for it.

There are an estimated 1,300 people in Vancouver who use illicit
opioids, according to city officials.
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