Vancouver to hold public forum on increasing number of overdose deaths
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.