B.C. Emergency Health Services (EHS) responded to a record number of suspected overdose calls in 2020 – 27,068 to be exact – an average of 74 calls every day.
Overdose calls increased the most in the Northern health authority, which saw calls spike by 56 per cent compared to 2019.
That worked out to about 730 overdose calls for every 100,000 people up North – nearly matching the rate in Vancouver Coastal, which typically generates the most overdose calls of any health authority in the province.
Calls per day
34
131
Fewest calls
Thursday, Jan. 9
34 overdose calls
Over 100 calls
Wednesday, Feb. 19
First of 28 days with more than 100 calls.
Noteable
Income assistance payment days
Overdose calls routinely spike around these dates.
Daily peak
Friday, June 26
131 overdose calls
Monthly peak
2,706 overdose calls
Source: B.C. Emergency Health Services