Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to British Columbia for a first-hand look at the opioid crisis facing the province.
Trudeau is expected to visit Victoria and Vancouver on Friday.
It’s expected he’ll do a ride-along with Vancouver Police in the Downtown Eastside.
Speaking with Global BC’s Chris Gailus in Burnaby in December, Trudeau acknowledged the overdose crisis is a tragedy that’s touching communities right across the province and putting significant stress on first responders.
The prime minister promised the federal government can and will do more to help tackle the crisis, starting with significant investments in mental health treatment.
In February, the federal government announced a commitment of $65 million over five years to combat the opioid epidemic nationwide, including $10 million in urgent support for British Columbia emergency response efforts.
READ MORE: In Conversation with PM Justin Trudeau: #trudeautalk2016
In April, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency, sounding the alarm about the soaring number of illicit drug overdoses around the province.
Despite increased public awareness and more support for first responders, the latest numbers released by BC Coroners Service in January still paint a bleak picture.
While the number of illicit overdose deaths was down in the first month of 2017, the death toll of 116 people is still the third-highest on record, behind only the previous two months.
There were 914 overdose deaths in the province last year, most of them linked to powerful illicit opioids.
READ MORE: Fentanyl overdoses killed hundreds of Canadians this year, experts say 2017 could be deadlier
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