Vancouver spent over $100k fighting opioid crisis in 2 months last year

The City of Vancouver has released a report detailing how much itspent fighting theopioid crisis in the last two months of 2016.

The summary, submitted to council by city managerSadhu Johnston, is an overview of"extraordinary" spending incurred by boostingemergencyandhealth services, as well as organizingeducation forums and naloxone training events.

In total, the city spent $107,000 to combat the crisis in November and December.

Provincially, B.C. saw a record-breaking 914 overdose deathsin 2016. Just over 23 per cent of those deaths happened in Vancouver.

The city's report named the Downtown Eastside (DTES) as the epicentre of the crisis, but notes that moneyhas been allocated toother neighbourhoods.

Mobile medical units and staffing: $98,000

In early December, aMobile Medical Unit (MMU) was moved tothe Downtown Eastside to act as a "satellite emergency department" for first responders.

Paramedics could take overdose patients to the unit at 58 W Hastings Steet, rather than transporting them to St. Paul's Hospital.

In its first 30 days, the MMU saw 613 patients although only 43 per cent"had overdose presentations,"Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) told CBC News.

Preparing the downtown site for the incoming unit cost the city$55,000, Johnston wrote.

VCH, which deployed the unit with the Provincial Health Services Authority, has said it will reimburse the city.

Vancouver spent another $43,000 to boostVancouver Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) staffingat medical units on the DTES in December.

Naloxone training and forum with mayor: $9,000

In November, the city hosted a one-day naloxone training event. About 300 people living in the DTES participated, and many left with a naloxone kit to keep.

The city report noted that volunteer contributions to that event were "significant."

On Dec. 8, the city hosted a public forum to discuss the opioid crisis. Nearly 200 people attended, including Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Both events were "theresult of needs identified from DTES community members" and volunteers, Johnston said..

Recommendations for 2017

The report recommended several initiatives for the city to invest in this yearas the crisis continues. The measures would run the city just over$2million.

1. Continue to boost VFRS staffing in the DTES: Ongoing cost of $1.9 million, subject to demand.
2. Create a new Community Policing Centre (CPC) in Strathcona: One-time cost of $100,000.
3. Boost funding for exisiting CPCs: Ongoing cost of $108,200.
4. Provide further naloxone, mental health and additictiontraining for city and parks staff: One-time cost of $10,000.

The funding for the initiativeswould come from the city's $3.5 million contingency fund, according to the report.

In December, Vancouver city council approved a 0.5 per cent increase in property taxes to supplement that fund.

With files from CBC's Stephanie Mercier