Pubdate: Wed, 28 Sep 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Sarah Petrescu
Page: A4

MUNICIPAL POLITICIANS WRESTLE WITH FALLOUT FROM OVERDOSE CRISIS

The Union of B.C. Municipalities convention devoted an entire time
slot to a session on the public health emergency of drug-related
overdoses Tuesday, but could barely fill half the room.

"I don't think it's a lack of interest. I think it's a level of
frustration, that municipal politicians … feel helpless to address
this issue," said B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan, who this week blasted
the provincial government for falling short on promised addiction
treatment beds and a lack of support services.

"Year after year they [municipalities] say the downloading of services
from the provincial government onto local government is their biggest
challenge," said Horgan, one of a few provincial politicians in the
room.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and Coun. Marianne Alto were also
present.

Provincial health officer Perry Kendall delivered an overview of the
overdose crisis and how it has escalated in the past five years.

He noted there have been 488 overdose deaths in B.C. so far this year
- - a 61.6 per cent increase from the same period last year. "We are one
track for between 600 and 700 overdose deaths this year," Kendall said.

About 62 per cent of overdose deaths are related to fentanyl, a
powerful opioid used in surgeries but easily manufactured and bought
online.

"These deaths are the tip of the iceberg. For everyone that doesn't
survive, hundreds have received naloxone and were pulled back," he
said, noting 2,200 of the 14,000 naloxone kits given out have been
used.

Mark Tyndall from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control spoke about the
importance of safe injection sites, recognizing this can be a
contentious subject for municipal leaders.

"The merits of harm reduction are not up for debate," Tyndall said.
"If we listen to people's needs it's loud and clear this [safe
injection sites] is what they're asking for."

He said the community and municipal governments are crucial in making
change happen quickly.

Vancouver councillor Kerry Jang tried to rally his fellow municipal
politicians.

"We have land-use powers, we have advocacy powers. We work with our
first responders," he said, noting creating housing for people at-risk
and lobbying the federal government to make safe injection sites
easier to open are places to start.

The session ended with comments from frustrated first
responders.

"Three weeks ago I attended an overdose call. … When we arrived there
were three empty bottles of Narcan [naloxone]. The fellow was given
three vials and it wasn't enough. He needed to go to the hospital,"
said Sophia Georgas. The Vancouver paramedic said her union, the
Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., wants more support and collaboration
from the government.

Some of the ideas include community paramedics dedicated to areas with
illicit drug users, drug testing and the ability for paramedics to
make referrals.
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MAP posted-by: Matt