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By Dylana Kneeshaw

OVERDOSE CRISIS

Kamloops overdose calls rise as B.C. sets a new record for emergency calls

Aug 4, 2020 | 1:59 PM

KAMLOOPS — B.C’s overdose crisis statistics continue to climb, as Kamloops ranks within the top ten cities with the most 9-1-1 overdose calls last month.

According to data from B.C. Emergency Health Services (BC EHS), Kamloops now sits seventh in the province in terms of overdose responses in July. Locally, paramedics responded to 89 overdose-related calls last month.

Province-wide, paramedics responded to 2,706 overdose calls in July, which averages out to 87 overdose calls per day. BC EHS says it is the highest monthly number recorded since the overdose crisis began. Usually, paramedics respond to about 2,000 overdose calls a month.

In an email to CFJC Today, BC EHS says the ratio of calls for males to females is nearly double, 65.4 per cent male as compared to 34.4 per cent female. The two largest age categories for overdose incidents is between 21 to 40 years old, and 41 to 60 years old.

The service says when paramedics respond to a potential overdose situation, the patient has a more than 95 per cent chance of survival.

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Health professionals urge people who use drugs to avoid using alone, and to call 9-1-1 if you see someone who may be experiencing an overdose.

July Overdose Calls in the Top-10 communities in BC:

• Vancouver- 739
• Surrey- 244
• Victoria- 139
• Kelowna- 138
• Prince George-128
• Abbotsford- 94
• Kamloops- 89
• Nanaimo- 71
• Langley- 64
• Burnaby- 53