Province fights overdose crisis with community action teams

The B.C. government is sinking $1.5-million into the fight against the opioid crisis.

The province announced Thursday it is funding community action teams in 18 cities.

The program is part of itsnew Overdose Emergency Response Centre, unveiled in December.

"The role of the community action teams is to intervene early to provide support to people at risk of overdose before it's too late," said Mental Health andAddictions Minister Judy Darcy.

Theprogramwill focus on four key tasks: expanding harm reduction services, increasing the availability of Naloxone, addressing the unsafe drug supplyand connecting people to support services for treatment options.

'Boots on the ground'

"Each community action team will play a crucial role in targeting resources where they're needed most," said Darcy, describing itas a "boots on the ground"effort.

The program will include representation from municipal governments, first responders, front-line community agencies local health authoritiesand Indigenous groups.

Communitiesreceivingup $100,000 in one-time fundingto create the teams include: Vancouver, Richmond, Powell River, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Victoria, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Duncan, PortAlberni,Kelowna,Kamloops, Vernon, Prince George andFort St. John.

News of the programcomes a day after the B.C. Coroners Service revealed a record number of overdose deaths in 2017.