Amidst a provincewide opioid crisis that has also had tragic consequences in Squamish, the BC Coroners has issued several recommendations to help address the problem.
A news release issued Thursday says the BC Coroners Service Death Review Panel is calling on the province to regulate recovery programs, expand access to methadone therapy and create accessible provincial drug checking services.
“The clearest finding that has come through this review is the reaffirmation that the biggest problem we face in terms of overdose deaths is the recent increase in drug toxicity,” said Michael Egilson, who chaired the panel, in the release.
The use of fentanyl has increased provincewide in recent years, creating a dramatic jump in overdose-related deaths.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine.
“In particular, the potency and content of illicit substances is unpredictable; this is why we’re advocating for access to safer drug use, including opioid agonist therapy, tools like drug checking and take-home Naloxone kits, as well as an evidence-based treatment and recovery system of care,” Egilson said.
Improved opioid agonist therapies was a key recommendation from the panel.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says opioid agonist therapy is an effective treatment for addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin, oxycodone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), fentanyl and Percocet.
This treatment involves taking opioid agonists such as methadone or buprenorphine. Such medications stifle withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids.
There has been one confirmed death from fentanyl overdose this year, as reported by The Chief.
Statistics from the BC Coroners report say there were 43 illicit drug overdose deaths in the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi, which encompasses the Squamish area, in 2017.
The region also includes Whistler, Pemberton and the Sunshine Coast.
The panel’s full report can be found at http://ow.ly/HR1S30jk21U
