This is the first in a Peace Arch News series which takes a look how the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to B.C.91裸聊视频檚 overdose crisis, and what91裸聊视频檚 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 province91裸聊视频檚 history.

But the 91裸聊视频渟ilent victims91裸聊视频� of the overdose crisis is the 91裸聊视频渉uge91裸聊视频� number of patients that survive overdose, but have a permanent brain injury, added South Surrey91裸聊视频檚 Dr. Tahmeena Ali, who this year was named BC Physician of the Year.

91裸聊视频淚 feel so disheartened for those families because their loved one survives, but they91裸聊视频檙e not the same loved one and it opens up a new Pandora91裸聊视频檚 box of challenges for that loved one,91裸聊视频� Dr. Ali said. 91裸聊视频淎nd the cost to society in our healthcare system, financially, emotionally, is beyond words.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 just less supply,91裸聊视频� Passmore said. 91裸聊视频淪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. There91裸聊视频檚 much more benzodiazepine, which are things like Xanax, and that doesn91裸聊视频檛 respond to Narcan.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淎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,91裸聊视频� Passmore said. 91裸聊视频淪o the numbers skyrocketed again and they91裸聊视频檙e actually worse. I mean, 170 deaths in one month is staggering.91裸聊视频�

Meanwhile, the federal government91裸聊视频檚 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 that91裸聊视频檚 due, in part, to the extra cash many of his tenants receive.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 resulting in a lot of people using and relapsing, and it91裸聊视频檚 really kind of chaotic around here because of that,91裸聊视频� 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 Health91裸聊视频檚 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 don91裸聊视频檛 provide a euphoric high.

The goal is to stabilize people91裸聊视频檚 lives while connecting them to supports that outline their pathway to recovery.

White Rock91裸聊视频檚 Ryan Nielson, 26, is one of the program91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淔rom my experience, when you91裸聊视频檙e getting to that withdrawal state, it91裸聊视频檚 pretty hard to think about anything else but your next fix,91裸聊视频� Nielson said.

Nielson, however, didn91裸聊视频檛 describe the crisis as an overdose problem, but rather a drug-poisoning problem.

91裸聊视频淧eople don91裸聊视频檛 say, 91裸聊视频極K, today I91裸聊视频檓 going to take a whole bunch of whatever.91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 not really like that. They91裸聊视频檙e just taking the regular amount and it happens to be cut,91裸聊视频� Nielson said.

A 91裸聊视频淩isk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies91裸聊视频� 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 weren91裸聊视频檛 allowed to prescribe.

91裸聊视频淓ven stimulant medications. So if someone91裸聊视频檚 got a dependence on something like crystal meth or crack, (doctors) can provide other, safer stimulants,91裸聊视频� 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 don91裸聊视频檛 need to go to their general physician to ask for a prescription.

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91裸聊视频淎 lot of folks who use substances are still very ashamed of talking to their own GPs about stuff like this,91裸聊视频� Passmore said. 91裸聊视频淏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.91裸聊视频�

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 they91裸聊视频檙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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 press the red 91裸聊视频榮top91裸聊视频� button, EHS will be alerted 91裸聊视频� but police won91裸聊视频檛 be.

91裸聊视频淭his is not a tool to give information to the police, or anybody who91裸聊视频檚 going to try and force the law on you,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲hy is this happening on such a high level, and we91裸聊视频檙e losing our sons, daughters, siblings, coworkers at such a rate?91裸聊视频� 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.