2X1.5 2X1.5 MOVING
SNOWMAGEDDON
SALE! steve marshall marshall steve
Clearout on ALL existingPROCESS inventory Save up to 27% off MSRP!
The Campbell Campbell River River area area got got whacked whacked with with aa The massive snowfall snowfall Thursday. Thursday. massive
CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR 1384-16th Avenue, Campbell River 1-877-581-7922
stevemarshallfordcampbellriver.com
FIRST IRST IIISSUE SSUE 1971 1971 FF IRST SSUE
View our our eEditions eEditions online online View Newsstand 85¢ 85¢ Newsstand
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 10, 10, 2017 2017 FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017
www.campbellrivermirror.com www.campbellrivermirror.com www.campbellrivermirror.com
‘Significant’ rise in region overdose deaths KRISTEN DOUGLAS DOUGLAS KRISTEN
CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Illicit drug drug overdoses overdoses are are claimclaimIllicit ing lives at rates never seen before, ing lives at rates never seen before, aa trend described described by by the the Island’s Island’s medmedtrend ical health health officer officer as as heart heart breaking. breaking. ical “Unfortunately it’s it’s not not going going away away “Unfortunately and it’s it’s not not going going away away any any time time and soon,” Charmaine Enns, Island soon,” Charmaine Enns, Island Health’s chief chief medical medical health health officer, officer, Health’s told city city council council at at its its Monday Monday night night told meeting. meeting. In fact, fact, statistics statistics show show that that fatal fatal In overdose rates rates are are not not only only not not going going overdose away, but but they’re they’re on on the the rise. rise. away, “We were were averaging averaging two two opioid opioid “We overdose deaths a day in the provoverdose deaths a day in the province (in 2016), ” Enns said. “For the ince (in 2016),” Enns said. “For the month of of December December we we were were having having month an average average of of four four deaths deaths aa day. day.”” an In total, total, 914 914 people people died died in in B.C. B.C. In from an opioid overdose last year, from an opioid overdose last year, an increase increase of of 79.2 79.2 per per cent cent over over the the an 510 deaths deaths in in 2015. 2015. 510 Vancouver Island Island saw saw the the largest largest Vancouver increase among among B.C. B.C. regions, regions, with with increase 155 opioid overdose deaths in 2016 155 opioid overdose deaths in 2016 156 per per cent cent increase. increase. –– aa 156 Of those, those, Enns Enns said said 23 23 overdose overdose Of deaths occurred on the North Island, deaths occurred on the North Island, with 10 10 of of those those deaths deaths happening happening in in with Campbell River. River. Campbell “That’s aa significant significant rise rise in in basebase“That’s line from from years years previous. previous. Normally Normally line we see see three three at at the the most, most, so so that’s that’s we triple the rate, ” Enns said. “There’s triple the rate,” Enns said. “There’s
been aa lot lot of of talk talk about about opioid opioid been overdose deaths deaths in in Victoria Victoria and and overdose Nanaimo because they’re bigger Nanaimo because they’re bigger centres, with with bigger bigger numbers numbers to to centres, report out. In smaller communities report out. In smaller communities the numbers numbers get get lost lost because because they’re they’re the smaller numbers numbers to to report report because because smaller we’re smaller smaller populations. populations. While While the the we’re North Island Island is is comprised comprised of of smaller smaller North communities, we we have have the the same same rate rate communities, of deaths happening in our commuof deaths happening in our communities. We We haven’t haven’t escaped escaped the the crisis. crisis.”” nities. Enns said the majority of overdose Enns said the majority of overdose deaths (73 (73 per per cent) cent) are are happening happening deaths in men men between between the the ages ages of of 19 19 and and in 49 years old. 49 years old. “This breaks breaks my my heart, heart,”” Enns Enns said. said. “This “We have a crisis impacting a whole “We have a crisis impacting a whole generation of of men men in in the the prime prime of of generation their life life and and II find find this this very very disturbdisturbtheir ing.”” ing. She said said the the majority majority of of overdoses, overdoses, She at 70 per cent, are associated with at 70 per cent, are associated with heroine, which, laced with fentanyl, heroine, which, laced with fentanyl, has contributed contributed to to much much of of the the has increase in fatal overdoses due to increase in fatal overdoses due to illicit drugs. drugs. illicit “This is is fentanyl fentanyl coming coming from from “This China and it’s mixed in with illicit China and it’s mixed in with illicit drugs and and there’s there’s no no quality quality control control drugs for illicit drugs so you really don’t for illicit drugs so you really don’t know what what you’re you’re getting getting when when know you’re taking taking illicit illicit drugs,” drugs,” Enns Enns you’re said. said. The other other problem problem is is that that peopeoThe ple are using while on their own. ple are using while on their own.
TYEE
Continued on on Pg. Pg. 3 3 Continued
JOCELYN DOLL/CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR JOCELYN DOLL/CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
K-9 searchers
Daryl Beck Beck with with his his dog dog Keeva Keeva and and Natasha Natasha Provost Provost with with her her dog dog Spirit Spirit are are two two of of the the three three Daryl citizen k-9 k-9 search search and and rescue rescue teams teams on on Vancouver Vancouver Island Island and and they they are are both both based based in in Campbell Campbell citizen River. See See story story on on page page 17. 17. River.
2016 CHEVROLET SONIC LT
Tyee Chev 7x2.5 PROCESS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR, TURBO TWO UNITS TO CHOOSE FROM!
CHEVROLET | BUICK | GMC 570 – 13th Avenue
T16383A
250.287.9511
tyeechev.ca DL#10790
T16382A
was $17,995
NOW ONLY $15,995