City of Vancouver to host public forum on opioid crisis

Dec 7 2016, 5:26 am

The City of Vancouver will be holding a public discussion to address the ongoing opioid crisis on Thursday, December 8.

The forum will give the public a chance to hear directly from those impacted by overdoses, including friends and family of victims and experts on the topic.

In 2016 alone, 620 people have died in BC due to opioid overdoses. Out of those deaths, 124 have occurred in Vancouver.

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From January 1 to November 26, 2016, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) recorded 6,016 illicit or unknown drug overdoses at its emergency units.

The opioid crisis does not only have an impact on drug users but on first responders as well.

In November 2016, the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded to 735 overdoses and had to use life-saving naloxone kits 345 times.

Thursday’s forum is organized in partnership with Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) and the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS). It will take place from 7 to 9pm at Vancouver City Hall.

Simran SinghSimran Singh

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