害羞草研究所淭ragic. Outrageous. Phenomenally sad.害羞草研究所�

Those are the words that Dr. Trevor Corneil used to describe the continually rising number of overdose deaths in Kelowna.

According to the most recent statistics from the BC Coroner害羞草研究所檚 office, the total number of fatalities rose to 32 in April. That means this city is well on a path to reaching over 100 deaths by the end of the year, which is more than double the number of deaths in 2016.

And by Corneil害羞草研究所檚 estimates, that means one of every 20 illicit drug users in Kelowna is on a path toward death.

害羞草研究所淚t really speaks to the stigma that surrounds drug use 害羞草研究所� we (at Interior Health) have really gone out of our way to do what we can in this emergency,害羞草研究所� he said.

Despite all those efforts, they害羞草研究所檙e not seeing the results that would accompany a push to end lung disease or something similar.

害羞草研究所淲e are not seeing the reaction 害羞草研究所� we need the public to understand that people who use drugs are people and one-in-20 (drug users) dying in Kelowna is not acceptable.害羞草研究所�

Thus far, the effort to slow the overdose death toll has included rolling out mobile OD prevention units, making take-home naloxone kits accessible and providing more substance use treatment for those residents at highest risk of an OD event.

Going forward, however, Corneil said that the most needed expenditure will be in the area of recovery treatment.

The question that lingers, however, is how government funding will roll out.

害羞草研究所淎s a health authority we are moving ahead anyway on this file,害羞草研究所� the said. 害羞草研究所淭his is a crisis. This is an emergency. We will spend what we are able to spend.害羞草研究所�

The spending 害羞草研究所渆nvelope害羞草研究所� that may exist in nine months, however, may look different depending on the government in power.

害羞草研究所�(All three parties) have made it clear that mental health and substance use are areas they want to focus on 害羞草研究所� but the question I have is 害羞草研究所榟ow much?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Corneil.

害羞草研究所淚 need to see at the end of the day how much we as a society, are willing to invest in treatment. That害羞草研究所檚 our biggest gap now.

Every health authority needs more base funding to support those one in 200 persons who use.害羞草研究所�