Vancouver to hold public forum on increasing number of overdose deaths

Dec 6, 2016 | 5:41 PM

VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver has scheduled a public forum on drug overdoses as the opioid crisis puts increasing pressure on its budget and first responders.

Thursday’s forum at city hall is expected to hear from a network of drug users, friends and families of overdose victims, and Mayor Gregor Robertson.

A release from the city says firefighters trained to administer the overdose-antidote naloxone responded to 735 overdoses in November compared to 261 in January.

It says more needles are being discarded in parks and on sidewalks in some areas, resulting in a significant rise in sanitation service for this year’s budget.