Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jan 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Andrea Woo
Page: S1

YOUNG PEOPLE DYING OF OVERDOSES DUE TO RELUCTANCE TO GET HELP, REPORT SAYS

Nearly 200 young British Columbians fatally overdosed in a fiveyear 
span, due largely to a delay in getting medical help.

That is the key finding from a troubling new report from the BC 
Coroners Service, which found that while most of the young adults 
used drugs while they were alone, most teenagers used with others - 
increasing the possibility of getting medical help should something 
go wrong. However, they did not call 911, prompting health and police 
officials to do more to educate young drug users.

The service's Child Death Review Panel looked at the overdose deaths 
of 26 youths ( 13 to 18) and 156 young adults ( 19 to 23) between 
2009 and 2013. It found that while only 37 per cent of young adults 
were with someone else at the time of the deaths, more than 
three-quarters ( 77 per cent) of youths were with at least one other person.

In about a quarter of the youth deaths, someone had expressed concern 
about the person's condition, based on behaviours such as collapsing 
or difficulty breathing, and a few were even put into a recovery 
position. However, no one called 911.

Michael Egilson, chair of the panel, said the findings underscore the 
importance of calling 911 at the first signs of medical distress.

"It's really critical in saving lives," he said. "If someone is 
experiencing a drug overdose, getting help, rather than hoping it 
will resolve itself, is really what you need to do."

The panel recommended that the Ministry of Children and Family 
Development engage with foster parents and youth networks to raise 
awareness about the signs of an overdose and the importance of 
calling 911 immediately. It also recommended that BC Emergency Health 
Services work with policing agencies and other stakeholders to 
develop targeted strategies around these messages.

Signs of an overdose from depressants such as opioids can include 
shallow breathing, snoring and not responding to stimulus. Signs of 
an overdose from stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines can 
include chest pain, seizures and a high temperature.

The most commonly used drugs were opioids, such as heroin, oxycodone 
and fentanyl, followed by stimulants such as cocaine and 
methamphetamine. Thirty-nine per cent of the overdose deaths among 
young adults and 46 per cent among youths were the result of 
mixingdrugs. Almost three-quarters of all 182 young people studied 
had either opioids only, or an opioid combined with another drug in their body.

About one-third of the young adults had been diagnosed with a 
mental-health issue.

The report noted there was an overrepresentation of aboriginal young 
people who died from overdoses during the studied period, compared 
with non-aboriginals, by a factor of two to 2.5. There was also an 
overrepresentation of youths who were either previously or currently 
involved with the ministry: 77 per cent of youths studied had contact 
with the ministry, as did 53 per cent of young adults.

Vancouver police Sergeant Randy Fincham, speaking earlier this week 
about an increase in fatal overdoses outside of the city's Downtown 
Eastside, noted the reluctance of some novice or recreational drug 
users to phone 911 when they encounter problems.

"It's not the police that are coming; it's going to be a paramedic," 
Sgt. Fincham said. "The ultimate goal is that people aren't worried 
about getting in trouble, or having the police come and arrest them. 
That's certainly not the case. The primary goal is to get them help."

The overdose death rate for people between 13 and 23, per 100,000, 
has remained relatively steady at between four and five since 2004. 
However, the figures climbed to 7.2 in 2011 and 7.6 in 2013.

"Whether that holds or not will be borne out over time, but it's 
certainly something many agencies are monitoring and are concerned 
about," Mr. Egilson, the panel's chair, said.

In 2015, British Columbia recorded a total of 465 illicit drug 
overdose deaths, or 9.9 per 100,000 population - a rate that has not 
been seen since 1998.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom