Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jul 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Page: A3
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Nick Eagland

OFFICIALS FEAR WELFARE CASH MAY LEAD TO DRUG DEATHS

Official Fears 'Someone's Going to Die' When Addicts Get Welfare Cheques

Support workers are bracing for the worst when welfare payments 
arrive on Wednesday, after a recent rash of drug overdoses in Surrey.

On July 17, the Fraser Health Authority issued a warning after there 
were 36 drug overdoses in Surrey within 48 hours. Many of those who 
overdosed reported they had used crack cocaine. But some cases turned 
up traces of fentanyl - a potent, synthetic opioid sometimes added to 
street drugs and blamed for the surge in deaths that led to the 
provincial health officer declaring a public health emergency in April.

Most who overdosed in mid-July were in the Whalley neighbourhood, 
said Dr. Victoria Lee, chief medical health officer for Fraser 
Health. Whalley is home to "The Strip," a stretch of 135A Street 
between 106th and 108th avenues where drug users and homeless gather 
near support services.

Ron Moloughney, president of the Surrey Area Network of Substance 
Users, said his team has been in the area doing outreach and working 
to ensure more people have access to the overdose-reversing drug 
naloxone, so there won't be "a bunch of bodies in the street" on Wednesday.

"Last week, it was pretty chaotic and it wasn't even welfare 
Wednesday, so I'd imagine this Wednesday coming up is going to be 
crazy because everyone's going to have money and they're going to be 
millionaires for a day," Moloughney said.

"A lot of people OD because they don't know what they're buying. 
They're in a hurry, right? They don't inspect what they're buying and 
they come back here and use it."

A recent study led by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control looking at 
income-assistance payments and overdose deaths found there were 40 
per cent more overdose deaths, on average, during cheque weeks 
compared to non-cheque weeks. The researchers also found "consistent 
increases in mortality" the day after cheques were distributed.

"You've got welfare Wednesday coming up on the 27th ... all the 
intravenous drug users are going to be all moneyed up, ready to go 
again and what's going to happen?" said Shayne Williams, executive 
director of Lookout Emergency Aid Society. "There's going to be a 
rash of overdoses and chances are, somebody's going to die."

Williams said Lookout, which operates housing and support services in 
Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, wants immediate interventions by 
Fraser Health and government.

Williams said he's pleased Fraser Health is looking at establishing 
supervised drug use sites in the region but said he's a "little 
frustrated" there hasn't been more government action to house 
homeless in Surrey.

"There's more open drug use and needles and stuff in the community 
because we haven't been proactive," Williams said.

"Anything else, it doesn't matter - if we knew that a British 
Columbian was going to die at this location, on this date, a week in 
advance, we'd do something about it. Why aren't we doing something 
about it in Surrey for the addictions, for the people? We know the 
drugs are tainted."

Lee said that following the recent spike in overdoses, Fraser Health 
devised a plan with police, fire, emergency services and community 
partners for income-assistance payment week. Extra staff will be on 
hand and communication and outreach efforts will be stepped up.

"We have been having almost daily calls since that time and are 
preparing for the Tuesday before and Wednesday as well, because 
sometimes we see an earlier spike," Lee said.

Lee said Fraser Health has drastically increased its naloxone 
training and distribution: Between January and May, there was a 
10-fold increase region-wide in take-home naloxone kit distribution, 
with 857 kits handed out.

Lee wants to remind drug users, their friend and families - including 
those who live outside the Whalley area - that kits are available at 
many pharmacies across the region.

There were 44 illicit-drug overdose deaths in Surrey by June 30 this 
year, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom