More people have died of illicit drug overdoses in Richmond during the first half of this year than all of last year, according to a recent report by the B.C. Coroners Service.
To June 30, 15 people have died from illicit drugs in Richmond, whereas 14 died in all of 2016, indicating that the city is no longer immune from what has become the greatest public health emergency in decades.
In 2015, there were six such deaths in Richmond, resulting in one of the lowest death rates in a “health service delivery area” across the province.
From 2007 to 2015, Richmond witnessed just 25 illicit drug overdose deaths.
This year, 13 of 15 deaths were connected to the powerful opioid fentanyl.
Across the province, illicit drug deaths are up 88 per cent in 2017, compared to the first half of 2016 (780 to 414 deaths).
“We are still seeing a significant increase in illicit drug overdose deaths, compared even with this time last year, and are continuing to lose loved and valued members of our communities at a tragic rate,” said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe, via an online statement.
“The drug supply is unsafe and anyone using illicit drugs is at high risk for overdose. I urge anyone using drugs, whether casually or regularly, not to use alone.
“Many deaths our coroners attend are in response to people who overdose with no one available to provide or summon critical and immediate medical assistance.”
According to the coroner, fentanyl–detected deaths “appear to account for the increase in illicit drug overdose deaths since 2012. as the number of illicit drug overdose deaths excluding fentanyl –detected has remained relatively stable since 2011 (average of 300 deaths per year).”
The drug overdose epidemic has hit males the most, as they account for 82 per cent of deaths. Individuals aged 30-59 have accounted for 73 per cent of deaths.
Richmond’s medical health officer told the Richmond News in June that Vancouver Coastal Health is drawing up a community response plan with the RCMP, the City of Richmond and the Richmond School District, among other stakeholder groups.
Richmond Hospital, Transitions (8100 Granville Avenue) and the Anne Vogel Clinic (8160 Cook Road) are offering free take-home naloxone kits and any help, upon request, said Dawar.
The drug naloxone is a rapid treatment for opioid overdoses.
According to the coroner, there appears to be no signs of the epidemic slowing since 2012, when there were 269 illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C.
