BC Opioid Deaths

Even as overdose-related deaths seem to be on the decline, a powerful new opioid is stepping into the deadly role once held by fentanyl. B-C’s Coroners Service says the synthetic opioid known as carfentanil has been detected in more suspected illicit drug deaths — at almost 35 times the rate for all of last year. Doctor Evan Wood of the B-C Centre on Substance Use is urging drug users never to use alone and test their drugs at one of the many overdose prevention sites that provide the service free and anonymously.