By Dominic Abassi

Overdose Deaths Slow on mid-island, Surge in B.C.

Jul 15, 2016 | 2:52 PM

The pace of drug overdose deaths isn’t slowing around B.C., but things do seem to be stabilizing on the mid-island.

Mid-island medical health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback reported in March that there had been 13 overdose related deaths in the region in 2016.

A report released by the BC Coroners Service Wednesday shows through June, there have been 15 in Nanaimo and one in Parksville, meaning there have been only three overdose related fatalities since March.

Of the 76 overdose deaths on the island this year, 20 percent have been in Nanaimo.

The 371 cases across B.C. in 2016 mark a 74 percent increase over the same period last year. 60 percent of those provincial cases have involved Fentanyl.

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