Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2018
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2018 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Author: Dale Boyd
Page: A1

OFFICIAL SAYS NEW APPROACH TRIED TO STEM OPIOID DEATHS

The region served by Interior Health has been "hit hard" by the opioid
epidemic, says the agency's medical health officer, but new tactics
are being brought to bear in the fight.

"We've come a long way, but unfortunately these deaths continue to
occur," Dr. Silvina Mema on Thursday told the board of the Regional
District of Okanagan-Similkameen.

Fentanyl is the sole reason for the Interior Health region facing the
second highest number of overdose deaths in B.C., behind only the
Vancouver area, she said. According to the BC Coroner's Service,
almost 90 per cent of overdose victims had fentanyl in their system.

Data gleaned from coroners' reports, paramedic calls and emergency
room visits and presented to the RDOS doesn't paint a pretty picture,
with a spike in overdose related numbers coinciding with the increase
in fentanyl in the region two to three years ago.

"Efforts continue, and we have now begun to rethink how we deliver
services, and there has been a restructure provincially," Mema added,
with 3,800 naloxone kit distributed last year in the region and 12,000
client visits at mobile supervised consumption sites.

Mema said the two largest barriers the health authority faces in the
battle are societal stigma against drug users, and capacity for
facilities and resources.

The numbers show just how fast the epidemic caught on, with 13
overdose deaths in the Okanagan in 2007 compared to 77 in 2016 and 126
in 2017. Specific numbers for small cities like Penticton and Vernon
are not released due ostensibly to privacy concerns.

Most overdose cases are men between 20 to 49 years old, with the
Indigenous population over represented as three times more likely to
overdose, Mema said.

Toni Boot, an RDOS director and Summerland councillor, asked if the
legalization of recreational marijuana would have any impact on the
fentanyl crisis, and if there are concerns about fentanyl-laced weed.

"We have not heard of fentanyl-laced cannabis," Mema replied. "I don't
have the crystal ball, as you say, but I'm not too concerned about
that."

Mema did note, however, there have been instances of fentanyl-laced
cocaine.

She urged continued work by service agencies and other community
groups to address concerns that surround addictions, such as mental
health and homelessness.

"This is not work the health authority alone can do," Mema said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt