The number of drug deaths in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows doesn't appear to be slowing down, with the most recent BC Coroners Service report listing the total deaths as 32 for the first two-thirds of the year.
Half of these deaths occurred from May to August, giving the two communities an average of 16 drug deaths every four months.
If Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows continue on their current trajectories, it'll give them the third-highest number of local drug deaths by year's end, falling just short of last year's record-setting 53 deaths.
When compared on a per-population basis, the two cities sit in the middle of the pack for the province with a rate of 37.6 deaths per 100,000 residents.
This per-capita death toll is particularly worrying to Doug Sabourin, executive director of Alouette Addictions, who said that it shows a scarier picture than simply the number of deaths.
"It's really hard to figure out what treatments are working," said Sabourin. "There's more drug strains coming out all the time, so we're constantly challenged to come up with new ways of treatment."
With the cold winter weather on its way, Sabourin is particularly concerned about keeping the homeless addicts alive, who often struggle to find sufficiently warm places to stay during periods of low temperatures.
"Our pals at the Salvation Army and Ridge Church are doing a great job in keeping people warm with the shelters," said Sabourin.
September saw the lowest number of drug-related fatalities this year for the Fraser North health service delivery area – which includes both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, along with several other neighbouring cities – with a total of 10 deaths. This is less than half of the recorded deaths during the same month last year, signalling an optimistic trend for the region.
But the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions said that the province as a whole still had a significant number of drug deaths in August and September, with 187 and 183 fatal overdoses, respectively.
"Although the rate of toxic-drug deaths this year continues to decrease compared to the past three years, the rate of toxic-drug deaths and the impact of toxic drugs circulating in B.C. communities remains unacceptable," said the ministry.
Anyone suffering from opioid addiction is encouraged to take advantage of the new Opioid Treatment Access Line, which can be accessed from anywhere in the province by calling 1-888-804-8111.
