More than halfway through 2017 and the opioid crisis isn91裸聊视频檛 letting up as fentanyl remains a serious concern.

There were 111 suspected drug overdose deaths in June, according to the BC Coroners Service.

That91裸聊视频檚 an average of about seven deaths every two days.

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A total of 780 lives have been lost to drug overdoses so far this year 91裸聊视频� more than double the number of deaths at this point last year.

Despite June seeing the least number of fatal overdoses compared to prior months this year, trends suggest there will be 1,400 lives claimed by the end of 2017 in B.C.

91裸聊视频淭hey do indicate we are plateauing at a new high although I think it91裸聊视频檚 premature to take any comfort from that,91裸聊视频� provincial medical officer Dr. Perry Kendall said at a press conference Friday.

The new data shows that the battle against lethal fentanyl tainting other illicit drugs has also worsened, Kendall said.

Fentanyl was detected in nearly 80 per cent of drug-related deaths from January to May, up from 61 per cent last year.

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And while no deaths have occurred at any of the six overdose consumption site and supervised consumption sites in the province, nine out of ten of those deaths have occurred indoors with more than half in private residences.

While some of these deaths happened while people were alone, Lapointe said, others are due to friends or family not knowing the symptoms of an overdose or not calling 911 in fear of criminal repercussions.

91裸聊视频淒espite naloxone being in the home and freely available, nobody thought to use it because they didn91裸聊视频檛 know an overdose was occurring,91裸聊视频� Lapointe said. 91裸聊视频淯se in the company of someone who knows what an overdose looks like and who is willing to to administer naloxone or willing to call 911.91裸聊视频�

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In December, the federal government passed the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act which guarantees immunity from certain charges related to simple possession of illegal drugs if someone is overdosing and paramedics are called.

Health authorities are also looking at new data to understand how to better combat the indoor drug-related deaths.

. 's Lisa Lapointe says gathering data to better address who are using alone - no specific socioeconomic class aka anyone

91裸聊视频� Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani)

Strategies could include making naloxone kits available by mail or a new phone app.

New mental health and addictions minister Judy Darcy said she91裸聊视频檚 spent the past two weeks getting a clear grip on the overdose situation, visiting the Downtown Eastside, Surrey91裸聊视频檚 135A neighbourhood and meeting with health authorities.

91裸聊视频淲hat these numbers tell us, is all kinds of families and all walks of life are affected by the overdose crisis,91裸聊视频� she said.

Darcy pointed to the need for more treatment beds, peer support workers and suboxone treatment options91裸聊视频� campaign promises from the NDP party.

91裸聊视频淲e must take urgent action to stem the tide,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e have a long way to go to have the kind of mental health and addictions services where you ask once and you get help fast.91裸聊视频�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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