Island Health issues warning after rash of overdoses

Island Health has issued an advisory after a rash of overdoses in the last 24 hours in the downtown area of Victoria.

Dr. Richard Stanwick, the chief medical health officer for theVancouver Island Health Authority, says six people were brought to the Royal Jubilee Emergency Department suffering from overdoses during that time.

"Our partners from VicPD said they actuallydealt with sevenoverdoses in a half hour period mid-afternoon yesterday,and the ambulance service saidthey were actually called out to nineindividuals overdosing," Stanwicktold All PointsWest hostJason D'Souza.

Stanwick says at this point they are unsure if some of these numbers overlap.

"Whatever the reason, the numbers are concerning and we felt it appropriate to put an alert out,"he said.

Stanwick says an increase of overdoses is not uncommonwhen social assistance cheques are issued, but that in this case, the "rapidity and tightness of time" is out of the ordinary.

The health authority is reminding users never to use alone, to always have a naloxone kit andnot to hesitate to call 911 if someone is overdosing.

A warninghasalso been issued for Campbell River after that area saw an uptick of overdoses in the last 48 hours.

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West