Nine people died of fentanyl opioid abuse in the Canadian city of Vancouver in just the past 24 hours, Mayor Gregor Robertson has said.
Flanked by the city's police chief and other emergency officials, he lauded existing harm reduction services such as drug consumption rooms in the city, but said more treatment options are urgently needed.
"It's desperate times in Vancouver and it's hard to see any silver lining right now when we haven't hit rock bottom," Robertson warned yesterday.
"Can you imagine nine people dying from another cause in one day in our city?" Police Chief Adam Palmer said, calling for more help for addicts.
Canada has been struggling to contain an overdose crisis that claimed 2,000 lives last year, with even more expected in 2016.
Vancouver has seen an average of 15 overdoses a month and police are currently investigating 160 fatalities, according to Palmer.
As the crisis snowballed, the city council approved a 0.5 percent property tax hike this week to help fight the fentanyl overdose crisis.
The funds are to go to support frontline emergency workers, shelters and outreach centers.
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