This is the first in a Peace Arch B次元官网网址 series which takes a look how the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 overdose crisis, and whatB次元官网网址檚 being done about it.

While an entire province mobilized overnight to protect its citizens against the spread of the novel coronavirus, a second, parallel, health crisis quietly ramped up, killing more than twice as many people as COVID-19.

In British Columbia, there were 53 deaths from COVID-19 in May. During that same month, 170 otherwise healthy people died of a drug overdose. It was the deadliest month for overdoses in the provinceB次元官网网址檚 history.

But the B次元官网网址渟ilent victimsB次元官网网址� of the overdose crisis is the B次元官网网址渉ugeB次元官网网址� number of patients that survive overdose, but have a permanent brain injury, added South SurreyB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Tahmeena Ali, who this year was named BC Physician of the Year.

B次元官网网址淚 feel so disheartened for those families because their loved one survives, but theyB次元官网网址檙e not the same loved one and it opens up a new PandoraB次元官网网址檚 box of challenges for that loved one,B次元官网网址� Dr. Ali said. B次元官网网址淎nd the cost to society in our healthcare system, financially, emotionally, is beyond words.B次元官网网址�

Experts say one of the contributing factors to the number of overdose deaths has been linked to the closure of the Canada-U.S. border.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just less supply,B次元官网网址� Passmore said. B次元官网网址淪o what that means is that the drug supply, the dealers, have been cutting their drugs with all kinds of things that are increasing mortality. ThereB次元官网网址檚 much more benzodiazepine, which are things like Xanax, and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 respond to Narcan.B次元官网网址�

Another aggravating factor for drug users occurred when the vast majority population was asked to isolate at home.

B次元官网网址淎s COVID-19 hit, certainly people accessing their normal services was reduced. And people were experiencing greater isolation in their lives and losing the structure of their jobs. And of course, the drug supply became much more toxic,B次元官网网址� Passmore said. B次元官网网址淪o the numbers skyrocketed again and theyB次元官网网址檙e actually worse. I mean, 170 deaths in one month is staggering.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 Canada Emergency Response Benefit of $2,000 per month has provided income to about eight million Canadians, some of whom are substance users.

Cole Izsak said he has had to kick out more than two dozen clients from his Surrey Back on Track recovery home since April 1. He said thatB次元官网网址檚 due, in part, to the extra cash many of his tenants receive.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 resulting in a lot of people using and relapsing, and itB次元官网网址檚 really kind of chaotic around here because of that,B次元官网网址� Izsak told PAN.

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Passmore said he contacted PAN to not only raise awareness about the increase in the number of overdose deaths, but to highlight community supports that are available for people who use substances in South Surrey and White Rock.

Fraser HealthB次元官网网址檚 Opioid Agonist Therapy clinic launched in 2018. Located at 15521 Russell Ave., the clinic offers therapy that involves taking the opioid agonists methadone or suboxone.

The drugs offered by OAT relieve withdrawal symptoms and help reduce cravings, but donB次元官网网址檛 provide a euphoric high.

The goal is to stabilize peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives while connecting them to supports that outline their pathway to recovery.

White RockB次元官网网址檚 Ryan Nielson, 26, is one of the programB次元官网网址檚 success stories.

Nielson, who used opioids daily for six years, recently kicked the addiction with the help of drugs provided to him by the OAT clinic.

B次元官网网址淔rom my experience, when youB次元官网网址檙e getting to that withdrawal state, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty hard to think about anything else but your next fix,B次元官网网址� Nielson said.

Nielson, however, didnB次元官网网址檛 describe the crisis as an overdose problem, but rather a drug-poisoning problem.

B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 say, B次元官网网址極K, today IB次元官网网址檓 going to take a whole bunch of whatever.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not really like that. TheyB次元官网网址檙e just taking the regular amount and it happens to be cut,B次元官网网址� Nielson said.

A B次元官网网址淩isk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health EmergenciesB次元官网网址� document from the province and BC Centre on Substance Use predicted a spike in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The document provides clinical guidance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and relies on clinical judgment of those writing prescriptions.

The document recommends replacing both legal and illicit drugs with prescribed or regulated substances. For the first time, physicians are able to prescribe drug replacements that they otherwise werenB次元官网网址檛 allowed to prescribe.

B次元官网网址淓ven stimulant medications. So if someoneB次元官网网址檚 got a dependence on something like crystal meth or crack, (doctors) can provide other, safer stimulants,B次元官网网址� Passmore said.

A member of the White Rock community action team Tides of Change, Passmore said, is leading the charge to fight for more tele-health services so that drug users donB次元官网网址檛 need to go to their general physician to ask for a prescription.

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B次元官网网址淎 lot of folks who use substances are still very ashamed of talking to their own GPs about stuff like this,B次元官网网址� Passmore said. B次元官网网址淏ecause not all GPs are comfortable with this topic, and maybe some have views about substance use that maybe are less-than-compassionate and certainly might not feel comfortable prescribing things that, for most of their career, they have been told is bad practice.B次元官网网址�

Another life-saving, harm-reduction tool that came out of the pandemic was invented by White Rock resident Jeff Hardy.

Hardy created an app, which is intended to provide something of a safety net for people who choose to use alone.

Hardy explained that after entering contact information and location into the app, a person can start the application before theyB次元官网网址檙e about to use a drug.

The app kick-starts a one-minute timer. With 10 seconds left, an alarm will sound, becoming progressively louder. If the user doesnB次元官网网址檛 press the red B次元官网网址榮topB次元官网网址� button, EHS will be alerted B次元官网网址� but police wonB次元官网网址檛 be.

B次元官网网址淭his is not a tool to give information to the police, or anybody whoB次元官网网址檚 going to try and force the law on you,B次元官网网址� Hardy said.

Passmore said the app is a Band-Aid solution to a bigger problem, which is the question of why so many British Columbians are turning to substances to find temporary relief or pleasure.

B次元官网网址淲hy is this happening on such a high level, and weB次元官网网址檙e losing our sons, daughters, siblings, coworkers at such a rate?B次元官网网址� Passmore asked.

Part 2 of this series will take a deeper look at the connection between people who suffered adverse childhood experiences and a reliance on drugs to ease their pain.