Pushed into the background by the pandemic, the opioid crisis has become more devastating than ever in British Columbia, where it has claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people in 2021.
A total of 2,224 fatal overdoses have been recorded in the Pacific Province, representing more than six drug-related deaths per day. This total eclipses, by far, the previous record of 1,767 cumulative deaths in 2021.
Among the victims, 83% showed traces of fentanyl in their body, confirming once again the devastating role of this synthetic opioid 100% more powerful than morphine, often mixed without the knowledge of consumers with other drugs, mainly cocaine.
“Over the past seven years, the death rate from illegal drugs has skyrocketed by more than 400%. Drugs now rank second behind cancers for the loss of years of potential life,” explained the province’s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, taking stock of the past year on Wednesday.
“We can’t just hope it gets better. It is long overdue to end the chaos and devastation in our communities stemming from the burgeoning illegal drug market,” she continued.
Worse than COVID
After a lull in 2019 that suggested the worst of the opioid crisis was finally over, drama has started to escalate again in British Columbia, where the drug is wreaking far more havoc than SARS-CoV-2.
Since March 2020, 3,833 people have died as a result of an overdose in the province, as of December 31, 2021.
During the same period, approximately 2,400 virus-related deaths have been accumulated in the province.
The worst to come?
Not only has the crisis flared up again with the pandemic, which has made it more difficult to access addiction services, but a new trend has the BC Coroner’s Office even more concerned.
In December, 50% of the samples taken from overdose victims showed the presence of etizolam, a tranquilizer from the benzodiazepine family which was only detected in 15% of cases last summer.
However, this substance has the power to cancel the effects of naloxone, the only antidote to opioid overdoses, threatening to further worsen the heavy toll of the province, detailed the Office of the coroner.
To counter this crisis, Coroner Lapointe is proposing to better control the influx of drugs and make them available to consumers.
“Every day that passes without action, six more people will die. [..] There is not enough time to research and discuss. It is time to act,” she said.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com