Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jan 2017
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Abbotsford News
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Page: A4
Authors: Ashley Wadhwani and Tyler Olsen
Referenced: Report: Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC January 1, 2007 -
December 31, 2016: http://mapinc.org/url/mF02dXv0

ABBOTSFORD RECORDS 37 OD DEATHS IN 2016

Across province, more than 900 died from fatal overdoses

The numbers are unprecedented not only in Abbotsford but across the
province: 914 people lost their lives in B.C. last year after overdosing
on illicit drugs.

That figure, released Wednesday by the BC Coroners Service, is nearly
double the 510 overdose-related deaths from 2015 - and that 2015 number
was itself a dramatic increase from the year before.

And the problem is only getting worse. December was the deadliest month of
2017, with 142 overdose deaths recorded.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the exact percentage of overdoses that
stem from fentanyl will be confirmed in March, as detection tests
continue.

Not a single overdose death has occurred at a supervised consumption site
or overdose prevention site, with Lapointe applauding the efforts of
social agency workers, volunteers, and first responders.

These numbers would be much higher if not for them, she said, calling the
year-end statistics "the tip of the iceberg."

To try to contain the overdose epidemic, the province set up multiple
supervised consumption sites and "overdose prevention sites" around the
province last month.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Terry Lake pledged $16 million to expand a
variety of recovery supports.

Of these new funds, $10 million will be used for 60 new intensive
residential treatment beds (40 for adults, 20 for youth) and 50 intensive
outpatient treatment spaces. Both will provide 90-day programs and a year
of follow-up care through weekly group counselling and ongoing access to
counsellors.

The new treatment spots are estimated to go to 240 people with opioid
addictions.

Service agencies and police in Abbotsford have frequently spoken about
delays between someone wanting to access help and when they are actually
admitted to a treatment facility. The concern is that during that gap -
which can stretch for weeks - users will change their mind or overdose.

The province will also provide 100-per-cent coverage for opioid
substitution therapies to eligible British Columbians as of Feb. 1.

This coverage falls under PharmaCare's Plan G psychiatric medications
program, which provides no-cost coverage to those with lower incomes.
Individuals who qualify for MSP premium assistance, or who have an annual
income under about $42,000, would be considered eligible for no-cost
buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone under this plan.

"We want to be able to provide treatment as quickly as possible," Lake
said. "But ... we don't have the resources to provide treatment on demand
for all conditions."

He called on the federal government to declare a federal health emergency
because of the significant number of illicit drug deaths.

"We haven't seen the response that I think this type of epidemic requires
on a national scale."
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