Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jan 2017 Source: Comox Valley Echo (CN BC) Copyright: 2017 Comox Valley Echo Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/comoxvalleyecho/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/785 Page: 3 Author: Spencer Anderson DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS DOUBLE ON NORTH ISLAND Fatal drug overdoses in the North Island kept pace with the Lower Mainland in 2016, with fentanyl-laced narcotics to blame for two thirds of the deaths. As of the end of November, the B.C. Coroner's Service documented 755 illicit drug overdoses in 2016 across the province. One hundred and thirty-nine of those deaths took place on Vancouver Island. "The year before, we had 60," said Island medical health officer Dr. Charmaine Enns, who is calling for more early intervention and treatment programs and services to combat the crisis. The north Island region has seen 24 deaths from overdoses. Of those, 10 came from the Comox Valley and 10 from Campbell River - more than double the cumulative eight deaths for the region in 2015, said Enns. And although the overall number of deaths for the north Island is a fraction of total deaths, "our rate of overdose deaths in the north Island is the same" as the central Island region, Enns said. The fentanyl crisis has seen the drug overdose toll explode across the province in recent months, leaving doctors, paramedics and health officials scrambling to keep pace. Fentanyl, a toxic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, is being cut into narcotics due to its low cost and high availability, with deadly results. But because fentanyl can seamlessly be synthesized into other drugs, most users will have no idea their lives are at risk. "Most have a combination of drugs and often times the person buying those drugs think they're buying one drug, but it's a cocktail," said Enns. And there are other risks to drug users too, including new threats like carfentanil, an opioid even more powerful than fentanyl. The province has responded through the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and non-profit partners to distribute Naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an overdose, through thousands of kits. More than 12,700 kits have been distributed throughout the province, with almost 3,000 reported being used. But it's a band-aid solution to a broader problem. Enns said 80 per cent of at-risk users are men aged 20 to 49 with some history of drug use. "That's a harder-to-reach population in many ways," said Enns. "We know it's not as simple as (saying) 'Don't use,' but we really want people to know that using is more risky than ever," she said. It can be more risky in rural areas where geographic isolation, as well as fewer available substance abuse and health services, is a factor. Enns said that "a continuum of care" in all parts of the province is important to dealing with the long-term problem, including "safe consumption services" like injection sites. Local responders have also met with Island Health to figure out and coordinate strategies for dealing with increases in overdoses. Courtenay fire chief Don Bardonnex and Comox assistant fire chief Jim Lariviere attended a meeting with Island Health, B.C. Ambulance and other organizations on Tuesday to discuss the issue. Bardonnex said his volunteer fire department has decided against carrying injection kits to administer Naloxone to people experiencing an overdose, due to additional training requirements and the risk of contamination associated with needles. Instead, the Courtenay fire department has requested a brand of Naloxone that can administered via a nasal spray. Bardonnex said fire crews will typically arrive at an overdose before an ambulance three times a year, and will administer CPR and other measures until an ambulance arrives. Lariviere said Comox firefighters have been trained to administer Naloxone injections by B.C. Emergency Health Services and have administered injections of the antidote. "We've been on two overdoses in the last month or so," Lariviere said. - --- MAP posted-by: