'I'm horrified': Nanaimo sees record-setting number of overdose deaths
The latest numbers in B.C.'s toxic drug crisis paint another discouraging picture. In just the first 10 months of 2022, Nanaimo has eclipsed its previous record for overdose deaths recorded over an entire year.
The worrisome trend is being partly blamed on a deadly supply of drugs circulating in the Mid-Island community.
"The chaotic illicit drug market is extremely difficult to manage," said B.C.'s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.
Drug-user advocates say the spike in Nanaimo also underscores the need for more safe supply. Meanwhile, volunteers at an overdose prevention site in the city say Nanaimo needs more places where users can be supervised.
"If they overdose or get a bad batch, there's somebody here to save their life," said volunteer Byron Dunbar on Wednesday.
The province acknowledges that the numbers coming out of Nanaimo are bleak.
"[It's a] terrible outcome of, again, terribly increased drug toxicity," said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and MLA for Nanaimo.
The province says more safe supply is coming across B.C. and that an announcement on harm reduction in Nanaimo is scheduled for Friday.
It's help that many say was needed long ago. Nearly 11,000 people have died from overdoses in B.C. since a public health emergency was declared in 2016, including nearly 2,000 deaths in just the first 10 months of this year.
Of those deaths, 179 occurred in October alone, or about an average of 5.8 deaths per day throughout the month.
"It's pretty discouraging you know? I'm kind of thinking, when are we going to start helping people?" said resident Jessica Michalofsky.
Michalofsky has been running laps around the Ministry of Health building in Victoria for the past two months trying to raise awareness about the overdose crisis after her son, Aubrey, died in August from an overdose.
Leslie McBain with advocacy group Moms Stop The Harm, agrees that the numbers are concerning.
"I'm horrified," she said. "I am sad. As I said, it's kind of like Groundhog Day. It's the same numbers, essentially."
Across the Island Health service area, 313 people have died of overdoses between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year. That's down slightly from 330 seen during the same time period in 2021, but up from 273 seen in 2020, and 168 recorded in 2019.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.