Dr. Patricia Daly calls for new mental health hub to fight Vancouver's fentanyl crisis

Vancouver Coastal Health's chief medical health officer will askcity council fora new mental health and addictions hub at St. Paul's Hospital.

Dr. Patricia Dalyis expected to update Vancouver city council tonightonwhat's needed to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis where more than 300 people have died.

Shesays the proposed centre will be key tohelping those struggling withfentanyluse.

"That hub is criticallyimportantto begin to link thosesufferingfrom addictionsto appropriate care," said Daly during an interview with CBC Radio One's The Early Edition.

"We will also use that opportunity to provide those who come to St. Paul's after an overdose with take-home naloxene kits," adding that users will be trained on using the drug which helps reverse overdoses.

In explaining whyshe's recommending the centre be placed at St. Paul's Hospital,Dalysaid 70 per cent of overdose patientsthat are brought to the hospital, endup at the downtownlocation.

Thenew centre will require at least $1 million in funding from the city.

Her recommendationcomes aftera previousannouncement for fiveadditional safe injection sites in B.C.

"I know that advocates have been calling for that and we agree that we need to expand those services," she said.

If the proposals are granted, Daly says it's expected to takeanother year before the centres are operational.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: Dr. Patricia Daly calls for new resources to fight fentanyl overdoses in Vancouver.