The federal and provincial governments are funding overdose prevention strategies targetted towards people using drugs alone.
Ron Merks, co-chair of the Port Alberni Community Action Team, says one the highest overdose death rates is among men whose families and friends probably don’t know they’re drug users.
“Men between the ages of 25 and 55 tend to use by themselves because they haven’t told anybody that they’re using, and that’s the most dangerous way to use drugs, is by yourself,” he said.
Merks says the BC Government has sponsored the Lifeguard app, which monitors movement, and will cause your phone to ring before calling 9-1-1 or a predetermined contact after a period of inactivity.
The federal government recently launched the National Overdose Response Strategy which includes a toll-free number (1-888-688-6677) for drug users to call, and someone will stay on the line for 30 minutes to make sure they’re safe.
72 people died of drug overdoses in the central island area between January and November of last year – 33 in Nanaimo.
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