There were 174 fatal drug overdoses in February BC, including only one in the Northeast. Six deaths have been reported in the Northeast so far this year, according to the latest figures from the BC Forensic Service released on Tuesday, including five in January. The only deaths in February were reduced by three fatal overdoses reported the same month last year. “As we approach the sixth anniversary of the declaration of a public health emergency on substance-related injuries, we continue to lose members of our communities at an unprecedented and alarming rate,” Chief Medical Examiner Lisa Lapointe said in a statement. “The deaths of other inhabitants of 174 BC, so many of them young and middle-aged men with years of life ahead of them, are another reminder that urgent action is needed throughout the province.” In the northern part of BC, there were 13 overdose deaths in February, including eight in the Inland North and four deaths in the Northwest. As of November, 30% of deaths from illicit drug toxicity detected with fentanyl at Northern Health had extreme fentanyl concentrations in excess of 50 micrograms per liter, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Fentanyl and its analogues have been found in 87% of deaths in the area in the last 20 months. Other stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, have been found in 74% of deaths and benzodiazepines have been found in 38% of deaths. A provincial health committee was beaten and tasked with reviewing the overdose crisis. The committee, which includes North Peace’s MLA Dan Davies, will review patterns of use, the drug market, the role of organized crime, and the increase in toxicity that coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the province seeing almost seven deaths a day due to overdose and with the northeast BC. “To have the highest per capita deaths from overdose, we need to find the best way forward and reverse this worrying trend.” There have been 27 deadly drug overdoses in the northeast BC. in 2021, the second deadliest year on record for the region, behind a record 31 deaths reported in 2020. The Northeast recorded just six fatal overdoses a decade ago in 2012. An overwhelming number of people who die from increased drug toxicity continue to be men (78%). and in northern BC, people die more often in private homes (61.8%) or other homes such as hotels, rooms to let, shelters or other supportive homes (19.7%) according to the data. In its statement, Lapointe reiterated its call for a regulated supply of medicines to the public. “I recognize that the concept of safer supply is difficult for some to understand, given the many decades of a punitive, substance-based approach,” he said. “However, if we do not act quickly to provide a safe, controlled source of the drugs that people use in every community across our province, the people we love will continue to be vulnerable to the chaotic profit-driven illicit drug market. “Safer supply, along with decriminalizing personal drug possession, reducing stigma and building a presumptive treatment and rehabilitation system are critical elements in reducing the terrible harms and deadly effects of the toxic illicit drug market.” “, he said. Do you have an opinion? Send your letters to [email protected]
