More than halfway through 2017 and the opioid crisis isn香蕉视频直播檛 letting up as fentanyl remains a serious concern.

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

That香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淭hey do indicate we are plateauing at a new high although I think it香蕉视频直播檚 premature to take any comfort from that,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淒espite naloxone being in the home and freely available, nobody thought to use it because they didn香蕉视频直播檛 know an overdose was occurring,香蕉视频直播� Lapointe said. 香蕉视频直播淯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.香蕉视频直播�

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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

香蕉视频直播� 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 she香蕉视频直播檚 spent the past two weeks getting a clear grip on the overdose situation, visiting the Downtown Eastside, Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 135A neighbourhood and meeting with health authorities.

香蕉视频直播淲hat these numbers tell us, is all kinds of families and all walks of life are affected by the overdose crisis,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Darcy pointed to the need for more treatment beds, peer support workers and suboxone treatment options香蕉视频直播� campaign promises from the NDP party.

香蕉视频直播淲e must take urgent action to stem the tide,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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