The toxic drug crisis in BC continues to take a heavy toll on our paramedics, including the Nechako region.
According to year-end data from BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), local medics responded to 47 overdose calls in Fort Saint James in 2023, followed by another 14 in Vanderhoof
Like many communities in BC, overdose and drug poisoning calls have seen a steady climb since a public health emergency was called by the provincial government in 2016.
Even more alarming, the yearly breakdown has seen a steady rise in Fort Saint James over the last five years.
- 2019 – 19
- 2020 – 26
- 2021 – 43
- 2022 – 42
- 2023 – 47
Vanderhoof on the other hand has held steady during the same period as it pertains to overdose calls.
- 2019 – 9
- 2020 – 12
- 2021 – 15
- 2022 – 12
- 2023 – 14
Furthermore, Northern Health saw a 23% spike in overdose calls in 2023.
Northern Health has seen an even sharper trajectory in the volume of overdose events.
- 2016 – 913
- 2017- 1,085
- 2018 – 1,232
- 2019 – 1,332
- 2020 – 2,077
- 2021 – 2,414
- 2022 – 2,838
- 2023 – 3,498
In 2023, BCEHS paramedics responded to 42,172 overdose/poisoning patient events for the year, an average of 116 calls a day.
The total number of responses to overdoses/poisonings represented an increase of 25% from the previous year.
The average monthly calls are more than 3,500 per month. BCEHS experienced 11 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning calls in 2023.
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