As opioid overdoses continue to plague every community in the country, Port Alberni paramedics are providing the province with life-saving programs.
According to Central Island Medical Health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback, it was Port Alberni workers who were the first to start handing out naloxone kits to everyone in and around the drug culture to help cut down on overdose deaths.
Dozens of people gathered at a public information session last night to hear the challenges and successes of the many people working within the local drug culture.
Central Island Medical Health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback says the programs are working as local overdose numbers are leveling off – not increasing like elsewhere
He estimates 25 people in Port Alberni have died of opioid drug overdoses over the past 2 years
Hasselback said Victoria and Vancouver are still the main centres of the opioid overdose crisis, while support services here have helped direct a record number of people to seek treatment.
