Every minute counts.

BC EHS paramedic have mere minutes to inject naloxone into the bloodstream of someone suffering an overdose before their heart stops.

A total of 1,011 British Columbians have died as a result of the province91裸聊视频檚 illicit drug crisis in the first six months of 2021 91裸聊视频� a grim record in the province91裸聊视频檚 ongoing battle with a toxic drug supply.

Illicit versions of fentanyl and carfentanil, the two drugs wreaking havoc in British Columbia, have accounted for 87 per cent of those deaths.

In an update on Overdose Awareness Day (Aug. 31), the BC Coroners Service announced that 159 people fatally overdosed in June alone, making the ninth consecutive month when more than 150 died.

In a news conference, chief coroner Lisa Lapointe reiterated that the ongoing pandemic has fuelled an increase in the toxicity of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 illicit drug supply. Paired with social distancing measures that have driven many to use alone, 82 per cent of overdoses so far this year have been in private or other indoor residences.

Brian Twaites, advanced care paramedic and paramedic specialist, told reporters that paramedics have been responding to an exponential increase of overdose calls this year, with no apparent end in sight.

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91裸聊视频淧eople often ask me what we can do to stop this crisis, and I don91裸聊视频檛 know what the answer is. The only advice I can give is if you are using recreational drugs, please, please do not use it alone.91裸聊视频� Twaites said.

When asked what needs to be done to 91裸聊视频渁ctually effect change,91裸聊视频� Lapointe said there needs to be meaningful coordination between all levels of government to provide a safe supply of clean drugs for those struggling with addiction. Attitudes need to change, too, in order to remove the stigma of providing harm reduction measures and easily accessible treatment.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 very clear that B.C. needs a safe supply,91裸聊视频� Lapointe said. Projections for 2021 estimate there may be as many as 2,000 or more deaths by the end of the year.

Since 2016, when former provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared overdose fatalities the province91裸聊视频檚 first-ever public health emergency, a total of 7,760 lives have been lost.

Overdoses in B.C. are on track to be the second most common cause of deaths in the province with malignant cancers being the first.

Forty-four years old is the average age for someone to die from an illicit drug poisoning. Roughly 80 per cent of fatalities have been men.

91裸聊视频淭his is someone91裸聊视频檚 best friend, a mother, a father, someone91裸聊视频檚 brother or sister and most tragically someone91裸聊视频檚 child,91裸聊视频� Twaites said.

The latest cases come as a federal election is underway, with many advocates looking closely at how party leaders plan to address substance use disorder, mental health and social housing.

Long-time Moms Stop the Harm advocate Leslie McBain, who lost her son to a toxic drug poisoning in 2014, called on the government to put in place measures that could stop further overdose deaths.

91裸聊视频淲hy, when we are characterized as a socially conscious province and country, would we allow this to happen?,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淗ow many people must die before all levels of government have the courage to say enough is enough?91裸聊视频�

Neither provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix nor Mental Health Minister Sheila Malcolmson were present at Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 briefing.

In an interview, Malcolmson said the effort against overdoses lost ground during the pandemic, but more lives would have been lost if there hadn91裸聊视频檛 been more spending on addiction programs.

91裸聊视频淚 appreciate none of this is any comfort to someone who has lost a loved one, and that so many people continue to die from the toxic drug crisis shows we need to do more,91裸聊视频� she said in an interview. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e working on doing that every day. It91裸聊视频檚 not from a lack of political will.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频� with a file from The Canadian Press

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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