Urgent Spike in Non-Fatal Overdoses Across B.C. Health Authorities

UPDATE: Health authorities across British Columbia are issuing urgent warnings as non-fatal overdose incidents surge, prompting a dramatic rise in 911 calls. In a startling trend over the past few weeks, the First Nations Health Authority, Fraser Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health have reported significant increases in drug poisonings linked to a dangerous contaminant known as medetomidine.

According to Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer at VCH, medetomidine is a potent veterinary sedative that poses severe risks when misused. “It’s very toxic,” he stated. “If someone takes this drug on the street, it’s going to make them very sedated, very sleepy.” While calls for help have doubled, Lysyshyn reassures that non-fatal overdoses are trending downward overall, with fatalities being half of what they were a year ago.

The surge in overdose incidents aligns with the rapid emergence of medetomidine in the unregulated drug market. Dr. Rahul Walia, medical health officer at Fraser Health, noted a concerning trend: “We’re seeing medetomidine pop up at higher concentrations.” He emphasized that this substance is approximately 200 times more potent than xylazine, another veterinary sedative.

Community outreach has also been severely impacted. Andrew Giesbrecht, outreach supervisor at the Union Gospel Mission, reported that their team is responding to around three overdoses every few days. “It’s been very hectic,” Giesbrecht said, underscoring the added complexity medetomidine brings to overdose reversals with Naloxone. “These very confused mixtures make it very deadly and dangerous.”

Firefighters are also feeling the strain. Matthew Trudeau from Vancouver Fire Rescue Services confirmed that the department reached a record high on November 21, responding to 54 overdoses in one day. “The increase in total amount is unprecedented,” Trudeau stated. “Historically, people would come up from an overdose in a predictable way, but now they are staying down for longer, requiring more resources.”

As authorities continue to combat this alarming surge, they urge individuals to avoid using drugs alone and to utilize available overdose prevention services and drug-checking facilities. The situation remains critical, and the community is urged to stay vigilant amid this escalating health crisis.

With the overdose crisis evolving rapidly, the need for awareness and immediate action has never been greater. Health officials are calling for increased community support to prevent further tragedies.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation as authorities work to address the urgent public health threat posed by the increasing presence of medetomidine in the drug supply across B.C.