Authorities have issued a public alert following the deaths of 11 individuals due to suspected drug overdoses in Campbell River, British Columbia, within the past five weeks.
As per the B.C. Coroners Service, the Greater Campbell River area had recorded nine deaths attributed to possible drug overdoses in the initial four months of the year, based on the most recent available data. Therefore, the occurrence of 11 deaths within a five-week period represents a significant increase.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the RCMP urged caution among drug users, acknowledging the “sharp rise in overdose fatalities” as a matter of deep concern.
A local support worker attributed the deaths to political decisions and drug prohibition.
Sue Moen, the coordinator for the Campbell River Community Action Team, expressed, “The community is in shock. We are feeling quite powerless and distressed in many ways.”
“However, this situation underscores the points we have been emphasizing for a long time… If both the government and the medical sector intend to address this as a health issue, they must implement evidence-based health interventions.”
Moen advocated for an expansion of safe drug supply and increased access to services such as detoxification and voluntary treatment.
The support worker revealed that she personally knew eight of the deceased individuals and identified several factors contributing to the surge in deaths in the Campbell River region.
She highlighted the closure of a drop-in center and community kitchen during the previous summer as one of the factors. These facilities had facilitated community bonding and mutual support, according to Moen.
“The absence of these spaces means people are more isolated,” she remarked.
“We are observing heightened food insecurity in the community, leading to deteriorating health conditions, which, when combined with the presence of toxic drugs, results in more severe adverse reactions and overdoses.”
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced that people who rely on prescription opioids must now take those safer supply drugs under the supervision of a pharmacist. It comes after revelations the drugs were being diverted into the hands of organized criminals. As Katie DeRosa reports, critics say the move is long overdue.
In addition to local circumstances, Moen highlighted recent modifications to B.C.’s safer drug supply program, stipulating that individuals must consume their safer drugs in the presence of a pharmacist. She pointed out the challenge of accessing safer drugs in a smaller community like Campbell River due to limited pharmacy services.
She stressed the need for governments to address substance use disorder as a medical issue and urgently enhance access to safe drugs and comprehensive care.
“For any other medical condition – cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s – we would never consider withholding essential medications required by those individuals,” she stated. “We would not penalize them or adopt an enforcement-based approach to manage their condition.
“Yet, for over a century of prohibition, that has been the approach taken towards individuals using substances.”
Authorities Highlight Volatile Drug Supply
Const. Maury Ty
