December was a record month for overdoses in Vancouver

Overdose calls in Vancouver kept first responders busy through the end of 2016, and continue to do so in the first couple weeks of 2017.

And with 41 more overdose calls in December 2016 than in the month previous, “there are no indications, or no reasons to believe that the steady increase in call volume across the city is going to slow down any time soon,” Vancouver Fire Department Captain Jonathan Gormick told Daily Hive.

Firefighters responded to a total of 777 overdose calls in December, compared to 736 in November, compared Gormick.

In total, the department responded to 4,702 overdoses in 2016.

See also

• 11 in one day: Police issue warning after rash of overdoses in DTES
• 128 people died from drug overdoses in November
• 86% of drugs checked at Vancouver's Insite contain fentanyl
• 9 people died after overdosing in Vancouver on Thursday
• BC overdose deaths up 74% in 2016
• City of Vancouver will raise property tax to fight fentanyl crisis
• Delta emergency services called to 9 overdoses in 20 minutes
• Fentanyl deaths up 211% since 2015: Coroners Service
• Drug 100x more potent than fentanyl linked to Vancouver man's death
• Fentanyl suspected as overdoses double over 48 hours at Insite

And the number of overdoses in 2017 is already climbing.

From January 1, to 12 of this year, there have already been 240 overdose calls.

With the continuous demand on the department, “we’re pleased that at Firehall 2, staff are now on a 1-year rotation and that we now have a second Medic unit in place to help handle the load,” Gormick said.

However, more needs to be done.

“These measures only deal with the current state however,” he furthered. “Lasting solutions within each of the four pillars are needed to really have any effect on the overdose crisis.”