A suspected toxic batch of drugs detected in late April contributed to the highest number of overdose calls to the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in 17 months.
The week spanning April 23 to 29 saw 207 reported overdose calls, up 74 per cent from last year’s weekly average. April 28 saw the highest number of calls in a day since the beginning of last year.
Vancouver Coastal Heath issued a warning last week through its Real-time Drug Alert and Response (RADAR) service after seeing a spike in overdoses. The warning urged drug users to have their drugs checked at overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) reported a suspected seven overdose deaths last week, an increase from four reported the week prior. The VPD reports that 108 people have died from a suspected overdose so far this year in Vancouver. Last year, drug overdoses claimed 365 lives in the city.
“We saw an alarming spike in the number of overdoses last week due to a poisoned supply of drugs that is currently on the streets of Vancouver,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a news release. “I urge people to take all necessary—and potentially lifesaving— precautions, and that includes using available drug checking services and supervised injection sites. Lives are on the line and we will keep pushing for policy changes that will make sure people have access to safe prescription drugs rather than being forced to turn to deadly street drugs.”
Toxicology reports on the most recent deaths are not yet complete, and final overdose death numbers need to be confirmed by the BC Coroners Service.
