Vancouver overdose numbers remained high in August

Twenty-three people died from suspected overdoses in Vancouver in August, the city reported Tuesday.

That's five more suspected overdose deaths than were reported in July.

The city's report alsoshows Vancouver Fire and Rescue Serviceswere called to499overdose-related callsin August.

According to provincial statistics, of the 876 suspected overdose deaths in British Columbia between January and July,226happened in Vancouver.

First responders in the city have felt ahugestrain during the ongoingopioidcrisis. Capt. SteveFraserwithVancouver Fire and Rescue Services said the continuing struggle to save lives has seenunprecedentedstress and anxiety run rampant through their ranks.

Frontline Fentanyl

Health workers at organizations such as the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users andthePortland Hotel Societyhave been experiencing a significant strain as well, and theirstoryis the focus of the new documentaryFrontlineFentanyl.

The film, which screenedfor the first time Tuesday,follows health workers who are often the first point of contact for drug users in the city.

The half-hour film was made during February 2016, a time when the opioid crisis was still relatively new in Vancouverand people started overdosingin alarming numbers.

Following the film screening, a discussion and forum was held at Simon FraserUniversity's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Panellists includedfounder of the Overdose Prevention Society Sarah Blythe and deputy provincial health officerBonnieHenry.

Long-time drug reporterTravis Lupickmoderated the forum.

Speaking with host Stephen Quinn during CBC'sOn the Coast, Lupicksaid waning public interest in the opioid crisis is troubling to him.

"People in the media business are watching the page views start to dip on fentanyl and overdose stories," said Lupick. "And that's really sad because the deaths are not really dipping."

The screening was by donation only and all proceedswill go to B.C.'sOverdose Prevention Society.

With files from On the Coast