This is the first in a Peace Arch News series which takes a look how the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 overdose crisis, and what香蕉视频直播檚 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 province香蕉视频直播檚 history.

But the 香蕉视频直播渟ilent victims香蕉视频直播� of the overdose crisis is the 香蕉视频直播渉uge香蕉视频直播� number of patients that survive overdose, but have a permanent brain injury, added South Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 Dr. Tahmeena Ali, who this year was named BC Physician of the Year.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel so disheartened for those families because their loved one survives, but they香蕉视频直播檙e not the same loved one and it opens up a new Pandora香蕉视频直播檚 box of challenges for that loved one,香蕉视频直播� Dr. Ali said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd the cost to society in our healthcare system, financially, emotionally, is beyond words.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 just less supply,香蕉视频直播� Passmore said. 香蕉视频直播淪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. There香蕉视频直播檚 much more benzodiazepine, which are things like Xanax, and that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 respond to Narcan.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淎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,香蕉视频直播� Passmore said. 香蕉视频直播淪o the numbers skyrocketed again and they香蕉视频直播檙e actually worse. I mean, 170 deaths in one month is staggering.香蕉视频直播�

Meanwhile, the federal government香蕉视频直播檚 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 that香蕉视频直播檚 due, in part, to the extra cash many of his tenants receive.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 resulting in a lot of people using and relapsing, and it香蕉视频直播檚 really kind of chaotic around here because of that,香蕉视频直播� 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 Health香蕉视频直播檚 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 don香蕉视频直播檛 provide a euphoric high.

The goal is to stabilize people香蕉视频直播檚 lives while connecting them to supports that outline their pathway to recovery.

White Rock香蕉视频直播檚 Ryan Nielson, 26, is one of the program香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淔rom my experience, when you香蕉视频直播檙e getting to that withdrawal state, it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty hard to think about anything else but your next fix,香蕉视频直播� Nielson said.

Nielson, however, didn香蕉视频直播檛 describe the crisis as an overdose problem, but rather a drug-poisoning problem.

香蕉视频直播淧eople don香蕉视频直播檛 say, 香蕉视频直播極K, today I香蕉视频直播檓 going to take a whole bunch of whatever.香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 not really like that. They香蕉视频直播檙e just taking the regular amount and it happens to be cut,香蕉视频直播� Nielson said.

A 香蕉视频直播淩isk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies香蕉视频直播� 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 weren香蕉视频直播檛 allowed to prescribe.

香蕉视频直播淓ven stimulant medications. So if someone香蕉视频直播檚 got a dependence on something like crystal meth or crack, (doctors) can provide other, safer stimulants,香蕉视频直播� 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 don香蕉视频直播檛 need to go to their general physician to ask for a prescription.

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香蕉视频直播淎 lot of folks who use substances are still very ashamed of talking to their own GPs about stuff like this,香蕉视频直播� Passmore said. 香蕉视频直播淏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.香蕉视频直播�

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 they香蕉视频直播檙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 doesn香蕉视频直播檛 press the red 香蕉视频直播榮top香蕉视频直播� button, EHS will be alerted 香蕉视频直播� but police won香蕉视频直播檛 be.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not a tool to give information to the police, or anybody who香蕉视频直播檚 going to try and force the law on you,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淲hy is this happening on such a high level, and we香蕉视频直播檙e losing our sons, daughters, siblings, coworkers at such a rate?香蕉视频直播� 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.