CORONER WARNS OF OVERDOSE SPIKE

There Were Eight Heroin-Related Fatalities From January to July on The
Island

Though the B.C. Coroners Service is warning about a spike in drug
overdose deaths on Vancouver Island, police have not

noticed an increase in this area. Regional coroner Matt Brown said
there were eight confirmed heroin-related fatalities from January to
July on the Island with another four suspected cases awaiting
toxicology test results.

Police and those who try to help addicts in Nanaimo have not noticed
an appreciable increase.

Cpl. Ken Callaghan of the Nanaimo RCMP said the detachment has "not
noticed any increase here."

If the police had heard of an alarming number of drug overdose deaths
because of high-potency heroin, Callaghan said the RCMP would have
issued a public warning. John Hough, a board member of the Nanaimo
Addiction Foundation, also hasn't heard of a spike in deaths caused by
heroin. "I'm not saying it hasn't happened but the board is taking a
summer hiatus and we won't know until we talk to the frontline workers
who help addicts in the city," said Hough.

Brown insists the number of overdoses has increased.

"There's a definite spike there," he said.

"The message really needs to be careful and clear that there is a risk
out there and that if you're using, utilize the street nurses and
those on the front lines that can provide you with some information on
how to do it in a safe way."

Brown said anyone who has a negative reaction to heroin, or notices
someone who is having problems after injecting the drug, should seek
immediate medical help. It's the second time in three months that the
coroners service has expressed concern about a rise in heroin overdose
deaths.

The service first issued a public safety warning in May following an
increase in heroin-related fatalities on the Lower Mainland. He said
coroners on the Island became concerned recently that people are not
getting the message.

Katrina Jensen, executive director of AIDS Vancouver Island, said the
situation highlights once again the need for a supervised injection
site on the Island.