OD deaths hit new peak

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m.

Following the release of statistics showing a record-breaking number of overdose deaths in December, health minister Terry Lake urged the federal government to declare a nationwide emergency.

“We haven't seen the response that I think this type of epidemic requires on a national scale,” Lake said. “We know that what we're seeing here will be seen elsewhere, it's already starting in Alberta, we hear terrible stories in Manitoba, we know it's starting to happen in Ontario ... we need a national response.”

The recent stats show 914 people died from illicit drug overdoses in 2016, up almost 80 per cent from the 510 deaths in 2015.

The higher than usual number of deaths per month have held steady throughout the year – but then spiked in November, when 128 people died.

Lake said the spike in recent months could be attributed to the introduction of carfentanil, an even stronger opioid than fentanyl.

“We suspect the arrival of carfentanil in larger proportion may be responsible for this,” Lake said. “When we saw those numbers in November, that seemed to be the explanation. And to see these numbers in December, it reinforces that.”

While the BC Coroner's Service can't identify carfentanil at this time, chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the equipment that could pinpoint it has been purchased and will be operational by March.

The province also announced $16 million in additional funding for additional residential treatment beds and intensive outpatient services. This brings the total spent on the drug crisis by the province to $65 million.

"Because this involves people either living or dying, this becomes our priority," Lake said. 

While the recent numbers seem to show few results from the investment, Lapointe said the death toll would be much higher if it wasn't for the efforts of emergency health responders, social agencies and public servants.

Lapointe urged those who are addicted to drugs and don't have the option to abstain, to use in the presence of medical personnel.

Interior Health recently announced it would be applying to the federal government for approval of a mobile supervised consumption site that would allow drug users the option of using their drugs near medical personnel. 

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ORIGINAL: 1:10 P.M.

British Columbia reached a new peak of 914 illicit drug overdose deaths last year with the arrival of the deadly opioid fentanyl.

The figure is almost 80 per cent higher than the 510 overdose deaths due to illicit drugs in 2015.

In the Okanagan, 76 people lost their lives; 48 in Kelowna and 13 in Vernon. Totals for other Okanagan communities are not available due to privacy concerns.

The BC Coroners Service says December was the worst month at 142 deaths province-wide, the highest ever recorded in a month.

The B.C. government declared a public-health emergency last April in response to the crisis, setting off a series of preventative measures to try to slow the death toll.

The B.C. Centre For Disease Control launched a take-home naloxone program for residents to reverse the effects of opioids.

The government also announced late last year that overdose prevention sites would be established in communities across the province where people could take illicit drugs while being monitored by trained professionals equipped with naloxone.

- With files from The Canadian Press