The isolation protocols of the COVID-19 pandemic that kept people from gathering in groups contributed to an increase in drug overdose deaths in British Columbia, says a health expert.
Illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. had declined to below 1,000 people in 2019, but increased to more than 1,800 in 2020, the year the pandemic began, Dr. Reka Gustafson, chief medical health officer for Island Health, told about 300 addiction experts meeting in Victoria on Thursday.
害羞草研究所淎fter five years of telling people not to use alone, we told an entire population not to be with each other,害羞草研究所� she said during an opening address at the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine conference.
害羞草研究所淭hat has had profound societal impact we are still dealing with,害羞草研究所� she said.
B.C.害羞草研究所檚 overdose death rate is now two times higher than it was when the province declared a public health emergency in 2016 as the opioid fentanyl flooded the illicit market, she said.
The BC Coroners Service reports almost 13,000 people have died from illicit drug overdoses since the health emergency was declared.
害羞草研究所淲e made it much more difficult for people to not be alone during the pandemic,害羞草研究所� Gustafson said in an interview following her address at the conference.
害羞草研究所淪ubstance use, especially the use of the illegal drug supply, one of the biggest safety measures was not to use alone,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚f you overdose and you are not alone you are much less likely to die.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hat is one of the side-effects of our intervention,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e have to own it. We have to measure it. And we have to make sure that the next time we contemplate these broad societal interventions we immediately consider and measure not just the effects of the intervention but the side-effects as well.害羞草研究所�
Pandemic restrictions implemented by the B.C. government limited gatherings at recreation venues, churches, pubs, nightclubs and other social gatherings, including weddings and parties.
Gustafson told the delegates that B.C. needs more overdose prevention sites and a renewed commitment to decriminalization as it tries to curb drug poisonings that kill and average of six people a day.
Drug treatment policies and programs must have the same status as any other health service, she said.
Gustafson said dedicated cancer treatment facilities and anti-alcohol initiatives are proven measures and approaches that would benefit addiction treatment in B.C.
She said the province needs to expand overdose prevention sites and 害羞草研究所渕ake them dignified.害羞草研究所�
Overdose prevention sites save lives, Gustafson said.
害羞草研究所淲e have clear evidence that supportive housing sites with overdose prevention services have substantially fewer deaths than supportive housing sites without overdose prevention services on the site,害羞草研究所� she said.
B.C.害羞草研究所檚 decriminalization of small amounts of hard drugs is a program that must continue, she said, despite concerns by some local governments and residents about public drug use in places used by children.
The B.C. government recently introduced legislation banning public drug use in parks, recreation areas, around bus stops and business entranceways, but it said it remains in support of decriminalization as a method to reduce the stigma of drug use.
害羞草研究所淧ersonally, I feel if you see someone suffer, the answer is not to make them go suffer somewhere else,害羞草研究所� Gustafson said to applause from attendees.
She said the decriminalization debate has prompted reactions that have been uncomfortable at times, but likely give more attention to the issue.
害羞草研究所淚t has brought forward some very, very strong feelings, very, very persuasive stigma that害羞草研究所檚 just under the surface in our society,害羞草研究所� said Gustafson. 害羞草研究所淧erhaps those conversations needed to be brought to the front.害羞草研究所�
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