Northern Health plan to address drug deaths
PRINCE GEORGE – The number of opioid-related deaths in Northern Health has grown 35% between 2017 and 2018, making it the second highest location for overdose deaths in BC.
As a result, Northern Health has created a plan to address the issue. One of the education around reducing the stigma associated with drug use. Following the Stop Stigma, Save Lives campaign, a new regional position has been created to address and reduce stigma in Northern BC.
“The thing I most worry about is related to stigma and reducing barriers to people accessing care,” says Dr. Sandra Allison, Chief Medical Health Officer.
Another program is the Take Home Naloxone program as a harm reduction tool. Northern Health will also continue with its overdose prevention site in the Needle Exchange location on Third Avenue. Northern Health says since it opened its doors in December of 2016, staff have responded to at least 171 overdoses and 13,288 visits. That’s an increase of 81%.