In the past decade, Canada has seen a surge in drug abuse and overdoses the likes of which we have never seen before. Opioids, methamphetamines, and fentanyl have become a common occurrence within inner city and lower income areas. East Vancouver to Thunder Bay, drugs have taken over a society of once lively people. 17 Canadians everyday were hospitalized for opioid overdoses .The rate of opioid overdoses in men between 25 and 44 increased 30% between 2016 to 2017 and only seems to keep growing as federal and provincial governments scramble to contain the problem. 

Alberta has reached a griming realization regarding the drug abuse taking place in their province. Alberta has reached a record high of deadly drug overdoses, claiming the lives of four Albertans everyday. Since May of 2020 the drug problem in Alberta has been on a steady incline, with an increase of overdose deaths by 45%. Since then more than 100 Albertans have died each month. The data shows that the deaths are coming from all demographics. Men, women, children, teenagers, and elders are all at a severe risk of overdose. Data from Global News says the people most at risk are men ages 35 to 39, making up three-quarters of overdose fatalities. Critical opinions coming from opposing parties directed towards The United Conservative Party (UCP) are fast to remind them there are programs and life-saving solutions that could be implemented into Alberta’s Provincial government. Doctors on the frontlines of the overdose crisis are criticizing the UCP for botching the efforts to combat overdoses. 

“We know that we have a very toxic drug supply on the streets right now and so they need to do drug testing, they need to make sure that there is a safe supply. And they need to be expanding supervised consumption sites.” 

– Lori Sigurdson, NDP, Former Alberta Minister of Labour

Sigurdson added the UCP needs to expand supervised consumption sites in Alberta. Cities such as Vancouver have implemented supervised consumption sites to create a safer environment for drug users and ensure drugs don’t contain fentanyl.

Pixabay / stevepb

Doctor Bonnie Larson, a Calgary family physician, spoke out against the UCP’s lack of measures taken to stop drug overdoses. Larson suggests decriminalizing drugs for the public. By decriminalizing drugs the government can regulate the use of drugs and ensure they don’t contain poisonous chemicals. Underground markets for opioids wouldn’t be able to survive with the supervised drug consumption.

“Not just overdose prevention, but getting at the core of stigma — which is criminalization of drug use. We need to talk about this, at least have conversations about this.”

– Doctor Bonnie Larson, Calgary Family Physician

Alberta isn’t the only province fighting to keep opioids out of vulnerable hangs. B.C. is also suffering a drug crisis. 2017 data from Global News shows Vancouver is leading the country in opioid poisoning hospitalizations. Kelowna is also a hot zone. The hospitalization opioid overdose rate in Kelowna is 52.8 per 100,000 when adjusting for age. Victoria, Abbotsford and Mission are also getting struck with abnormal numbers of overdoses making B.C. the leading province of opioid overdose and hospitalizations.

Recently the RCMP are uncovering a large drug trafficking operation, infiltrating the lower mainland. Investigations are still taking place. Officers are still following leads, but are attributing the flood of drugs into the lower mainland to gang conflicts. Following an RCMP investigation into the drug-trafficking network, police raided three homes, one in the 12600 block of 97 Avenue, another in the 11700 block of 96A Avenue, and another in the 13400 block of Central Avenue. The RCMP seized a variety of items including 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 500 grams of cocaine, 250 grams of bulk benzodiazepines, several kilograms of buffing agents and paraphernalia for mixing, cutting and packaging drugs. Cellphones, ammunition, and around $14,000 in cash were confiscated by officers during the raids.

A statement put out by Sgt. Glenn Leeson with Surrey RCMP’s drug unit recalled the events that took place on Oct. 3rd.

“This drug seizure is significant as not only has it disrupted a drug trafficking network with ties to the Lower Mainland Gang Conflict, there are now 25,000 potentially fatal doses of fentanyl off our streets.”

– Sgt. Glenn Leeson, Surrey RCMP’s drug unit

Pixabay / rebcenter-moscow

The war against drugs in the lower mainland started even earlier. Late September, Surrey RCMP busted a Clayton Heights home and seized 29 kilograms of magic mushrooms from a clandestine grow-op. Officers started their investigation Sept. 6 when a carbon monoxide alarm was set off at a private residence in the 700 block on 196th street. 

Officers were able to obtain a search warrant allowing Surrey RCMP and Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team to conduct a 2-day investigation inside the house. One woman was arrested along with the seizing of 11kg of dried psilocybin, a potent psychedelic found most commonly in magic mushrooms and 18 kg of wet magic mushroom. Surrey RCMP believe 6,200 doses worth of magic mushrooms were confiscated.

“There are risks when consuming illegal substances such as Psilocybin Mushrooms as they are not regulated so the potency and effects can vary significantly.”

– Sgt. John Murray, Surrey RCMP Drug Unit

Sgt. John Murray added that any use of magic mushrooms or psychedelic substance is still extremely illegal in the lower mainland and across B.C.

The unregulated market of opioids, fentanyl and other solicited drugs are taking hold of Canadians nationwide. Provincial governments are trying their best, implementing new ways to combat the ever growing force of drug abuse. For many it feels as if the governments on a provincial scale are either throwing everything at the problem and seeing what sticks while others are turning a blind eye to those who are in desperate need of care. Many are debating whether the federal government needs to step in and call a state of emergency to get more eyes on the situation.  But all in all “too little too late” is the phrase many are using to describe what horrors are being brought upon major population areas.