Something appears to be working because the past two reports now show significant declines in the numbers of young people, and adults, who have died from drug deaths
I have to admit being
harsh on the provincial government, when it comes to drug deaths from overdoses
... but more importantly from deliberately poisoned drugs that I feel the
government is not dealing harshly enough in ensuring that those manufacturing the
poison, get HARSH jail terms.
That said, something appears
to be working because the past two reports now show significant declines in the
numbers of young people, and adults, who have died.
Here is the most
recent report from the BC Coroners Service, regarding updated reports on
illicit drug toxicity deaths and fentanyl-detected drug deaths to the end of
June 2019.
Key preliminary findings of these drug death reports are
below. Data are subject to change:
- In June
there were 73 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths, a 35% decrease
from the number of deaths in June 2018 (113), and a 15% decrease from
the number of deaths occurring in May 2019 (86).
- There
were approximately 2.4 illicit drug toxicity deaths per day in June
- For the
first six months of 2019, there were 538 illicit drug toxicity deaths, a
decrease of approximately 30% over the same six-month period in 2018 when
763 were reported.
- So far this year 71% of those dying were aged 30 to 59 years. Individuals aged 19 to
59 years have accounted for 89% of all illicit drug toxicity deaths in
2019. Males
accounted for 78% of all suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths
- By
local health area, the rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest
in Princeton, Merritt, Vancouver (aggregate),
Grand Forks and Hope (see Table 16 in report for details).
- Fentanyl
was detected in more than four of every five illicit drug toxicity deaths
in all of last year, and so far in 2019.
- After
higher levels of carfentanyl detection in the first four months of 2019,
peaking at 32 deaths in March, there were decreases in the numbers of
deaths with carfentanyl detected in May (13) and June (four).
- No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption sites or drug overdose prevention sites.
Here are some tips to help respond to overdoses, promote harm reduction
and raise awareness about treatment options available:
- Always carry a naloxone kit, even if you do not use drugs. Call 911 if you see an overdose.
- If using drugs, have them checked if you can and never use alone. Use at a supervised consumption site or overdose prevention site if you can.
- If you think you might have a substance-use disorder, talk to your health provider about treatments that are available.
Learn More:
Illicit drug overdose death report:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf
Fentanyl-detected death report:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/fentanyl-detected-overdose.pdf
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/fentanyl-detected-overdose.pdf
Toward the Heart: www.towardtheheart.com
BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Overdose Response Indicators:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/overdose-response-indicators
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/overdose-response-indicators
BCCDC Illegal Drug Overdose Events report:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/illegal-drug-overdose-events
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/illegal-drug-overdose-events
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