VANCOUVER—A new technology used to test illicit substances shows Vancouver’s street drugs have higher levels of fentanyl than usual, according to Vancouver Coastal Health. The last week of April saw Vancouver Fire and Rescue respond to a total of 207 overdose response calls — 74 per cent higher than their weekly average in 2017. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) — the organization through which all 911 calls are funnelled — reported its paramedics responded to 250 overdose calls that same week, bringing the total calls for both services to 457 in Vancouver alone. It’s unclear how many of these calls involved both fire and ambulance attending the same overdose incident. Vancouver police also reported seven suspected overdose deaths in the same period, up from the four deaths the week prior.

Source: thestar May 04, 2018 19:52 UTC