Another Half Dozen Overdose Cases Recorded
Prince George, B.C. – Between December 5th and 11th, there were another 6 overdose cases in Prince George, three of which happened on the weekend.
There are no reports of any deaths.
Northern Health Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Sandra Allison says the needle exchange ( operated under the HIV Aids Prevention site) has extended its hours from the normal 1pm to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, to 1 pm to 8 pm and adding Sunday to the openings.
While the number of overdoses in Prince George has been slowly dropping over the past weeks, Dr. Allison says it’s too early to say if this is a positive trend “I would like to think that I could be optimistic, but unfortunately we’ve seen this waxing and waning core for several months. I believe with the advent of carfentanil showing up, we already know we’ve seen Furanylfentanyl and some other analogs in the Province, I suspect this ( dip in cases in P.G. ) is just a bit of a lull. I am really interested in trying to address the primary drivers but in the meantime we just have to ensure that we protect people and keep them safe.” She says, sadly, even if fentanyl disappeared tomorrow, there would be something to show up to fill the gap “There seems to be a continuous conveyor belt of substances that continue to add to the supply.”
Meantime, the Federal Government has introduced new legislation that would make it easier to open up a safe injection site. Bill C-37 cuts the number of requirements for a safe injection site from the current 26 to just five. The bill is also said to ban the importation of pill presses unless Health Canada has pre-approved the importation. The legislation also gives Canada Border Services increased ability to inspect packages coming from other countries.
Comments
Oh, oh… queue the “scumbag” and “waste of skin” comments. Peace on earth and goodwill toward all.
Why don’t you, after all it is called OPINION 250 and really what you said alot are thinking anyway!
What it does show is how bad the addiction is.. there is always a gamble when shooting “good” heroin..now they all know with fentanyl they risk death and still find the high worth the risk.. scarey
Notice…no one is playing along???
I’m certainly glad there were no deaths of these poor unfortunates. It’s too easy for the RCMP to park outside a pub or man a roadblock to nail somebody for their 3rd. beer. Years ago in PG the cops would give the pushers a ride half way to Baldy Hughes then let the scumbags walk back on a day like today. Harass the pushers to the point they leave PG for their own safety, since the crown councils and the judges don’t have the balls to properly sentence the pushers. Bear in mind that up to a life sentence can be given for trafficking in heroin in Canada.
So how about a few busts you wimps.
Two step plan to resolve this Fentanyl Overdose Crisis:
Step 1: Decriminalize all currently illicit drugs.
Step 2: Transfer authority and responsibility on these matters to Public Health.
Within ten (10) years, we should have reduced drug dependency, fewer OD victims, and less people in jail on drug charges. Why not? Portugal did it, why can’t we?
ht tp://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html
Because the “War on Drugs” is too lucrative a game for the police and the military to give up, especially in the USA.
What? Now I’ve heard everything
No big deal, there is a system in place now to fix ’em up and send them on their way, until next time.
Que the one guy who brings up the story of the single joint that was laced with Fentanyl, and how the drug doesn’t just effect hardcore users and we should all be gravely concerned. In 3, 2, 1…
Hmmm okay, then I guess all these overdoses are hardcore drug users then, I rest my case.
Here is the evidence that Fentanyl overdoses are highest among “recreational” drug users, NOT ADDICTS!!! The story also mentions marijuana being one of the drugs found to be laced with Fentanyl. For those of you who prefer to live in a constant state of “ignorance is bliss”, don’t bother reading any of the Fentanyl overdose facts presented the following news story:
ht tp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fentanyl-overdoses-spike-among-recreational-drug-users-in-b-c-1.2978521
Yet some will still choose to be willfully ignorant of the evidence and facts related to this Fentanyl Overdose Crisis, for those people, we ironically look forward to your next “waste of skin” and “scumbag” comments.
I’m a little confused. If recreational drug users are the one’s at risk for fentanyl overdose, then how does increasing the availability of safe injection sites help. Recreational users shoot up at home, mostly addicts use the safe injection sites. Why are we wasting time on safe sites if those at risk don’t use them?
But I agree with you, I don’t like the term waste of skin either. It only takes a few mistakes and anyone can end up on the streets.
But at the same time, Canada is no longer a nation of unlimited resources and can afford to fix all problems for all people all the time. As it currently stands – based on comments such as people like you – logging is evil, mining is evil, Site C electrical generation is evil, oil is evil – so where are we suppose to get the tax money to expend resources on people who there is little hope of recovery. What happens when we have to make the hard choices between funding addiction programs or extended care beds for seniors, or hospitals for children.
This isn’t the 60’s where 20 million people were sitting on a goldmine of resources. Our resources are dwindling and the tax consumers are quickly outpacing the taxpayers.
Great reality based logic! Thank you!
ski51, ironic that you would be confused as it is reflected in your comment which is a complete non-sequitur.
Nice that you can differentiate between recreational drug users “shooting up at home” from drug users who are addicts, as most recreational drug users are high functioning responsible adults that own homes and are not “scumbags” and “wastes of skin”.
You are correct, safe injection sites will reduce overdoses mostly in addicts, and not recreational drug users. For recreational drug users, I would suggest a place where their drugs can be tested to ensure their pot, cocaine, and even heroine, is not laced with Fentanyl. BC Health Authorities have provided this service at some outdoor music festivals, for recreational drug users to use to ensure the drugs they just purchased is safe.
You know BH, that’s a great idea. Let’s do free testing on illegal drugs. I mean, no sarcasm intended, it’s actually a good idea. You just missed the point that we no longer have unlimited cash sitting around to do everything we want.
If I, a tax paying citizen, want a PSA test for prostrate cancer, I have to pay for it. If I, a recreational drug user want to make sure my illegal substance is safe – you propose the government picks up the tab.
And as horrible as this sounds, when drug abusers die, on average society actually is better off financially. They no longer take up health resources, they never collect welfare, or OAS or CPP, or any kind of pension. They stop breaking into people’s cars, houses, businesses.
When taxpayer’s die, everyone is worse off. So who are you going to save?
So when we pick up the tab for that, which tab do you suggest we not pick up?
Remember, you are the one who is constantly on here complaining about resource extraction and how bad it is. You want Christie Clark to make sure children are not living in poverty. You want to spend away every problem, but block every avenue of revenue generation.
Take some time, and without pasting a link, try and explain how a resource based nation, generates wealth to pay for social programs, if at every turn, it’s resource extraction efforts are blocked or hindered.
And you know what, I’d love to have drug rehabilitation programs completely funded, but then, what do I tell those seniors who worked all their lives, that I can’t afford to provide them with extended care, or those kids who need treatment in a child friendly hospital, that I can’t afford one, or those veterans, who got hurt fighting for us, that I can’t afford PTSD counselling for them.
Unless you can find some magical way to say yes to everyone, who are you going to say no to?
“Health officials and emergency responders in Penticton, B.C., were overwhelmed last weekend after one person died and 90 concertgoers at the Boonstock Music Festival were hospitalized for drug overdoses.”
So without important “HARM REDUCTION and PREVENTION” activities, such as drug testing at music festivals, what are the cost to us taxpayer concerning the death of one concertgoer, and the hospitalization of 90 others from drug overdoses? Imagine that; 90 people over just one weekend admitted to the Penticton Hospital, talk about straining their medical / health care system in that city to its absolute limit!!! So you can take a hike as far as drug testing prevention costs go compared to much, much, higher hospitalization costs!
ski51, your thinking is not just irrational, it is deeply disturbing, as you go on to state; “And as horrible as this sounds, when drug abusers die, on average society actually is better off financially. They no longer take up health resources, they never collect welfare, or OAS or CPP, or any kind of pension.” Just replace “drug abusers” with “old people” and your demented bone chilling point is just as valid! Creepy thinking ski51.
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