Statistics show that illicit drug toxicity and fentanyl-detected drug deaths reached an all-time high, with May 2020 being the deadliest month for overdoses in BC’s history, and indigenous people continue to be a severely affected group.
According to data released by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) deaths of First Nations, Métis and Inuit due to illicit drug toxicity spiked between January and May of this year. During that period 89 deaths of indigenous people were recorded, a 93% increase compared to the same period last year.
While First Nations, Métis and Inuit people account for just 3.4 per cent of BC’s total population yet accounted for a staggering 16% of all recorded illicit drug toxicity deaths, dying at a rate of 5.6 times the rate of other BC residents this year, compared to a rate of 3.8 times in 2019.
There are several suspected reasons for the increase in overdose deaths within the First Nations, Métis and Inuit community, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted the drug supply and resulted in making the current supply more toxic.
Social distancing also encourages people to stay home and this isolation may have unintended negative consequences for those with substance abuse issues, such as using alone when they otherwise would not have, or being less likely to access harm reduction services and supports.
“This data demonstrates that the opioid crisis continues to disproportionally affect vulnerable BC First Nations people,” said Charlene Belleau, Chair of the First Nations Health Council.
“The concurrent COVID-19 pandemic is also creating challenges for those struggling with addiction. Properly resourced treatment centres and culturally safe harm reduction strategies will be critical moving forward. Now, more than ever, our people need this support.”
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry also noted the continuing need for people suffering substance abuse and addiction to use available supports during the pandemic.
“The increase in overdose deaths amongst Indigenous people in BC is deeply concerning,” said Dr. Henry.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing all of us to stay farther apart from others, isolating people and adding to what is already an immense challenge. We need people living with substance use and addiction to know that there are still supports in place to keep people safe and prevent overdoses.”
Other contributing factors are the fact that indigenous people in BC often face poverty and lack of housing, social determinants of health which are also predictors of addiction and substance use disorder.
The number of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people dying from illicit drug toxicity has climbed steadily each year since 2016, when BC declared a public health emergency regarding the opioid crisis, with the exception of 2019 when there was a 44% drop compared to 2018.
“This is truly devastating to all of us,” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“We mourn deeply with each and every family for those we have lost to this terrible crisis. Indigenous Peoples are over represented in this crisis and we are committed to working together with First Nations communities and leaders to create mental health and addictions services that are culturally safe and community led so that more families don’t have to keep experiencing these unimaginable and preventable losses of the people we hold close in our lives.”
