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Vancouver’s first responders are reporting an “alarming” spike in drug overdose response calls last week following a tainted supply of street drugs.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services reported 207 calls for the week ending Sunday, which city officials say is 74 per cent higher than last year’s weekly average.

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Seven people died from illicit drug overdose deaths last week, raising the death toll this year to 108 suspected overdose fatalities, according to figures provided by the city on Friday.

Mayor Gregor Robertson said there was “an alarming” spike in the number of overdoses last week because of a poisoned supply of drugs believed to still be on the streets of Vancouver.

“I urge people to take all necessary — and potentially life-saving — precautions, and that includes using available drug checking services and supervised injection sites. Lives are on the line and we will keep pushing for policy changes that will make sure people have access to safe prescription drugs rather than being forced to turn to deadly street drugs,” he said.

Vancouver Coastal Heath issued a warning last week, urging drug users to have their drugs checked at overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites.

The city notes that toxicology reports on the most recent deaths are not yet complete, and final overdose death numbers need to be confirmed by the B.C. Coroners Service.

The B.C. Coroners Services says 365 people died of an illicit drug overdose in Vancouver in 2017, or one death a day for the year. In B.C. more than 1,400 lives were lost in 2017 as the province continues to be plagued by the opioid crisis.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

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