As B.C. comes off the heels of the fifth anniversary of toxic drug overdoses being declared a public health emergency, Vancouver Island is facing possibly its worst point in the crisis to date.

Thatsa国际传媒檚 according to Dr. Sandra Allison, one of the Islandsa国际传媒檚 medical health officers.

sa国际传媒淧rovincially, we are seeing some of our highest numbers ever. I think across the province, everyone is concerned,sa国际传媒� she said during a Thursday video conference with media. sa国际传媒淚sland Health is experiencing some of their highest numbers ever, so we quite possibly could be the worst point ever.sa国际传媒�

Island Health has issued a string of overdose advisories for communities across the Island over the last two weeks. Allison said it was an Island-wide response even though most of the advisories were for mid- and south-Island communities.

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Allison said overdose advisories are issued after they review data from their community overdose reporting system, ambulance response and emergency room numbers, overdose prevention services and coronersa国际传媒檚 reports.

sa国际传媒淭his week marks another week of worrisome indicators that we watch for as medical health officers,sa国际传媒� Allison said.

When asked if any drugs in particular are causing the recent overdoses, the medical health officer pointed to coronersa国际传媒檚 reports that show fentanyl and its analogues (similar drugs) were found in 80 per cent of last yearsa国际传媒檚 illicit toxic drug deaths.

sa国际传媒淲e are seeing high levels of these analogues of fentanyl, as well as high levels of strong benzodiazepines in the street supply,sa国际传媒� she said.

The toxic drug supply, the level of despair in the community and stigma are contributing factors to the increase in overdoses.

sa国际传媒淲e have to have a better understanding about why people have these behaviors and be accepting of them so people donsa国际传媒檛 (use substances) in shame and in stigma and all alone sa国际传媒� and thatsa国际传媒檚 where theysa国际传媒檙e dying,sa国际传媒� the medical health officer said.

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Island Health is currently seeing higher numbers of deaths among men and people using substances alone.

sa国际传媒淲e really just want to remind people that they should not be using alone, that they should know their drug supply and we know that people are using illicit drugs and people use substances for many different reasons,sa国际传媒� Allison said. sa国际传媒淢edical health officers across the province and across the country are strongly in support of a safe supply because we believe that itsa国际传媒檚 an unsafe, toxic drug supply thatsa国际传媒檚 killing people.sa国际传媒�

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