Responding to a dramatic increase in the numbers of illicit drug-related overdoses and deaths in the first three months of this year, Perry Kendall, BC’s provincial health officer, declared a public health emergency, Thursday, April 14.
Coroners Service of British Columbia reported that more than 200 people in the province died due to illicit-drug overdose deaths between January and March. If that rate continues, Kendall said as many as 800 deaths could be recorded this year.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is warning drug users to take caution after Powell River added two deaths to the tally during the period.
VCH medical health officer Paul Martiquet confirmed that the powerful opioid fentanyl is in the community and drug users are at higher risk.
The Vancouver Island region, which the coroner service grouped Powell River into, has recorded 42 deaths so far in 2016; 60 deaths were recorded for the region in the entire year of 2015.
This is the first time a provincial health officer has served notice under the Public Health Act to exercise the emergency powers, stated Kendall in a media release.
“Health authorities have consistently asked for more data that will help inform responses and prevent future overdoses,” stated Kendall.
According to BC health minister Terry Lake, the public emergency will give the province more information to prevent further deaths.
“What’s needed is real-time information,” stated Lake in the release. “Medical health officers need immediate access to what’s happening and where, so they can take proactive action to warn and protect people who use drugs.”
The new powers allow health-care workers or emergency personnel to report to medical health officers on the circumstances surrounding overdoses or deaths. Information is expected to include the location of the incident, which drugs were used and how the drugs were taken. Regional medical health officers will then create targeted outreach that could include issuing bad-drug warnings and step up the distribution of Naloxone, used to counter the effects of opioid overdose.
Last year saw an increase in the provincial number of deaths by 30.4 per cent over the previous year’s 365 deaths, which works out to 10.2 deaths per 100,000 population.
“All these deaths are preventable,” said Martiquet.
The results compare to high rates of overdose deaths reported in 1998 and 1993.
Martiquet reminded users to make sure they are not injecting drugs alone, be cautious about dosages they are taking and have access to Naloxone.
The province recently took Naloxone off the list of drugs that are only available with a prescription.
