B.C. is reporting a record number of overdose deaths for the second month in a row.
The previous record of overdose deaths in a month was 171, in June the B.C. Coroners Service said there were 175 overdose deaths. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says the Covid-19 pandemic is making it more difficult for people who use illicit drugs to access harm reduction services.
Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions said in a statement today, “prior to Covid-19 we were headed in the right direction, with overdose deaths decreased 36 per cent year-over-year.”
It was the first time overdose deaths had gone down since 2012. The provincial government is moving to address the overdose crisis by opening new treatment beds, expanding efforts to separate people from the toxic drug supply, launching new teams to help people stay connected to treatment and working in close partnership with First Nations.
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