In 2016, there were 30 drug overdose deaths in 91原创. That was a 200 per cent increase over the previous year, and in more than half of those deaths (53 per cent), the opioid fentanyl was detected.

By the end of March this year, another nine people in 91原创 had lost their lives to an overdose. If the trend continues, 2017 will be an even deadlier year than its predecessor.

Sadly, none of this information is overly surprising anymore. Over the past few years we鈥檝e become inured to the numbers, even as they grow by leaps and bounds with every new set of figures released by Fraser Health Authority.

And, like most people (I assume) I thought I had a pretty good handle on who was falling victim to this crisis.

I lost a relative to a drug overdose in early 2016. I鈥檓 sorry to admit, we hadn鈥檛 been close for a number of years, but he was far too young 鈥� not yet 30 鈥� to simply be gone.

Yet he certainly fit my image of the 鈥榯ypical鈥� overdose victim 鈥� a regular user who had battled addiction for a number of years, managing to occasionally get clean, then relapsing, until the day he took his final, fatal dose.

You might be surprised to learn 鈥� as I was 鈥� that the average victim isn鈥檛, in fact, someone who is homeless or a hardcore addict (though many who fit that description have lost their lives to overdose), it鈥檚 actually men in their 30s, 40s and 50s. And many of them are educated professionals with steady jobs and good incomes.

That鈥檚 information that should come as a wake-up call to all of us, not least, employers.

At its May dinner meeting, Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce members heard exactly that message from a pair of speakers from 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Robert Anthony, an ER physician at LMH, and Jason Cook, executive director for LMH and 91原创 Health Services, offered the business community some insight into how their own workers and colleagues may be at risk of dying from a hit.

In fact, before the May 16 meeting, Dr. Anthony revealed, the person who had most recently died of an overdose on his table in the 91原创 ER was a high level bank employee.

The Chamber hosts a dinner meeting every month, where members get together to network and learn something new about the local business community. It鈥檚 a rare occasion when what they get is advice on how to help keep their employees alive.

Among the signs they were advised to watch for 鈥� unexplained weight loss.

A handout left at every seat further recommended talking to staff about the risks of drug use, displaying posters, having staff trained in CPR and doing regular bathroom checks. The sad truth is, though, if someone is so determined to use that they鈥檙e willing to risk death, a conversation isn鈥檛 going to stop them.

With respect to fentanyl overdoses, Cook said, 91原创 is 鈥渦p there with Surrey and Vancouver. There is a crisis in 91原创.鈥�

And it鈥檚 affecting people across the social spectrum.

The stigma surrounding drug use 鈥� that it鈥檚 something that puts only certain people at risk 鈥� has to change, said Cook, after showing the crowd a video made by students at Walnut Grove Secondary, following the deaths of two former students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not the homeless population and the disenfranchised,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淚t鈥檚 everywhere, it鈥檚 your neighbours, employees, family, friends and kids.鈥�

鈥淧eople are dying in their own homes.

鈥淚f it hasn鈥檛 touched you yet, it鈥檚 going to touch you.鈥�