Fentanyl use is creeping its way into the suburbs, with Richmond experiencing three overdose deaths in 2015, according to the BC Coroners Service.
On Tuesday, Richmond Fire Rescue deputy chief Tim Wilkinson reported a more recent incident to Richmond city council’s community safety committee.
The information comes on the heels of council approving a request by the fire department to start carrying Naloxone, an emergency drug that can reverse the symptoms of an opioid (pain-killer) overdose, which includes fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a fast-acting and powerful synthetic narcotic that has gained popularity on many North American streets. Other street drugs have been found to be laced with fentanyl.
A spike in fentanyl-related overdose deaths over the past two years in Metro Vancouver is partly to blame for 2015 marking a 25-year high (and the second highest per capita rate) for illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C.
In 2012, the coroner reported just three fentanyl-related deaths in Metro Vancouver, whereas in 2015, there were 47 (32 in Vancouver).
Wilkinson said the department’s ability to carry Naloxone could prevent more deaths, as first responders continue to see a rise of opioid use in Richmond, particularly in the downtown area, according to city officials.
However, opioid use is still relatively uncommon in Richmond. According to Vancouver Coastal Health, Richmond Hospital had nine heroin overdoses in 2015, whereas Vancouver hospitals had 331. Over the past four years, Richmond Hospital has handled 36 such cases.
Coun. Bill McNulty asked Wilkinson if the person who recently died of fentanyl was a Richmond resident. Wilkinson did not have that information readily available.
Wilkinson said first responders are also keeping an eye out for a drug named W18, which is said to be 100 times more powerful than fentanyl and reportedly making its way from the United States onto Canadian streets.
“I’d hate to say we expect more deaths,” he said.
Richmond’s medical health officer, Meena Dawar, said the coroner presently doesn’t have the necessary test kits to detect W18.
Dawar said it’s important to be realistic about drug use and to use harm reduction methods, if necessary.
She said if people choose to use drugs, they should not use them alone, they should start with small amounts and substances should not be mixed.
Dawar said more information on fentanyl and its effects is available at KnowYourSource.ca.
