Health authority says BC received record number of 911 calls about toxic drug overdoses

British Columbia has seen a record number of 911 calls related to toxic drug poisoning, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) said, as officials issued a warning about increasingly depleted supplies.

In a facebook postThe FNHA said last week saw a record number of emergency calls, with a one-day record set on Nov. 19.

In addition, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) Said Firefighters in the city responded to a record number of overdoses on November 21.

Authorities have linked the increase in 911 calls and overdoses to the powerful opioid fentanyl being mixed with the animal tranquilizer medetomidine.

This has led to drug users being warned to test their medications and not to use them alone, with fears that overdosing could reverse the condition. downward trend Deaths due to poisonous drugs compared to previous years.

“With the increase in call numbers over the past week, you know, it’s concerning – because we don’t want to see the decline that we had in years past,” said Dr. Nell Wyman, FNHA’s chief medical officer.

The Vancouver area wasn’t alone in seeing an increase in drug overdoses last week. A Cowichan Valley Shelter Naloxone is running out On November 18, more than 80 overdoses were seen in the region.

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As of Sept. 30, there have been an estimated 1,384 deaths from unregulated drugs in BC this year, according to the BC Coroners Service.

According to BC Coroners Service data, this year’s overdose rate is down 31 per cent from two years ago, part of a decline that is occurring across much of North America.

Wyman said the increase in 911 calls related to toxic drug poisoning — record numbers were not immediately provided — should not be viewed as a failure of harm reduction.

The medical health officer said, “Rather, it’s an issue of people who supply and distribute substances unregulated… It’s like sand under our feet. You know, we’re always trying to move forward and respond.”

Matthew Trudeau, a public information officer with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, linked the increase in overdose calls handled by city firefighters last week. check week – the week when income support payments are given in BC – which Researchers have added Increase in people buying and using drugs.

Trudeau said firefighters typically see a decrease in overdose calls during the summer, but last week saw an average of 45 calls related to drug poisoning across the city.

“Then from here, we see that huge increase, which unfortunately was not a number we want to break down as a historical number or marker — we had 54 (calls) for overdoses on Friday,” the firefighter said.

veterinary tranquilizer

Vancouver Coastal Health and FNHA both issued warnings this week about supplies of the drug being contaminated with medetomidine.

VCH said the number of non-fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl contaminated with animal tranquilizers has increased in recent weeks, like xylazine, Does not respond to naloxone.

“Medetomidine overdose is similar to opioid overdose, but also includes low heart rate and prolonged sedation (unconscious for several hours),” the health authority said in a warning.

Officials urge drug users get their medications checkedAnd said naloxone should still be given if overdose is suspected.

Wyman said medetomidine could be found intermittently in unregulated supply through 2023.

He cautioned against propaganda and misinformation being spread about the causes of the increase in emergency calls, saying harm reduction efforts have certainly helped slow down drug-related deaths so far this year.

“I would like to emphasize that the people who work on the front lines, who work in the communities, you know, are doing their heroic work day in and day out,” she said.