Prince Rupert sees sharp rise in number of Overdose calls over last five years; Terrace/Thornhill record the largest increase in Northwest

Somewhat lost these days in all the news related to COVID-19 has been the increasingly worrying situation related to Overdoses in British Columbia, a topic that has made for a new report from BC Emergency Health Services.

In data released yesterday, the BC Paramedic service relayed the increased number of calls that have responded to across the province; with the numbers of Northwest BC of some significance when it comes to one of the larger health concerns for the region these days.

For Prince Rupert, the year just ended provided for a rather dramatic increase with 78 calls for assistance recorded, making for a jump of thirty four calls from five years ago.

Terrace  and Thornhill however have recorded the largest spike in Overdose related calls for service with 208 recorded in Terrace for 2020, compared to just 38 in 2016. 

Neighbouring Thornhill  saw 25 calls for service in 2020, compared to just 19 in 2016.

Over a five year period the communities in this part of the province have seen a range of calls for assistance made. With the listings below highlighting where the Overdose situation is increasing at the fastest pace.

Terrace 

2016 -- 38 calls
2017 -- 39 calls
2018 -- 59 calls
2019 -- 98 calls
2020 -- 208 calls

Prince Rupert

2016 - 44 calls
2017 -- 41 calls
2018 -- 53 call
2019 -- 55 calls
2020 -- 78 calls

Smithers 

2016 -- 30 calls
2017 -- 24 calls
2018 -- 41 calls
2019 -- 31 calls
2020 -- 52 calls

Kitimat 

2016 -- 22 calls
2017 -- 25 calls
2018 -- 27 calls
2019 -- 38 calls
2020 -- 29 calls

Thornhill

2016 -- 19 calls
2017 -- 11 calls
2018 -- 13 calls
2019 -- 15 calls
2020 -- 25 calls

Houston

2016 -- 7 calls
2017 -- 17 calls
2018 -- 9 calls
2019 -- 11 calls
2020 -- 22 calls

Burns Lake

2016 -- 14 calls
2017 --10 calls
2018 -- 7 calls
2019 -- 20 calls
2020 -- 18 calls

The data for other communities both in the Northwest and across BC can be reviewed here.

Some observations from the BC Emergency Health Services review can be explored here.

In late December the provincial government addressed the issues of drug toxicity deaths

Drug toxicity deaths continue to surpass records in BC

Minister's statement on illicit drug toxicity

Just this week, Northern Health issued a warning over contaminated street drugs that have continued to circulate around the region.

For more notes on Health Care in the Northwest see our archive pages here.

A look at the work of Emergency Responders across the region can be explored here.