Bicycle paramedics armed with naloxone combing alleys at epicentre of battle to save lives

One of the record-breaking 494 overdose calls to 911 this week in Metro Vancouver was for Kelli Lubbers. 

Lubbers, who's been using drugs for 12 years, says it "blew her mind" when half her usual dose of what she thought was heroin almost killed her.

"It's crazy. It's ridiculous. Everybody is dropping like flies," said the 38-year-old regular on the Downtown Eastside.

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On Friday, B.C.'s health minister pledged $5 million in funding to help first responders address the worsening situation.

Paramedics on bicycles are outfitted with the life-saving gear an ambulance carries and are now responding overdoses, as they can often get there quicker than ambulances. There is a second group of volunteers — called Spikes on Bikes — equipped with life-saving naloxone kits.

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