B.C. Shelter Depletes Naloxone Supply Amid 80 Overdoses in 24 Hours

A shelter in the Cowichan Valley of British Columbia faced a critical shortage of naloxone last week following a troubling spike in drug overdoses. On November 18, the Warmland House Shelter in Duncan reported approximately 80 toxic drug poisonings within a single day, prompting urgent action from local health officials and community members.

Erin Kapela, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Cowichan Valley Branch, described the situation as unprecedented. “We’ve never experienced something quite like that,” she told CBC’s All Points West, highlighting the intense fear surrounding the surge in overdoses.

The Island Health Authority confirmed the dramatic increase in toxic drug poisonings, stating that the number of incidents reported from the evening of November 18 to the following day was alarming. Fortunately, no fatalities have been confirmed as of November 25, a fact that Kapela attributed to the rapid response of first responders and shelter staff.

Kapela noted that the shelter distributed such a large amount of naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, that they quickly ran out of supplies. “We had to put a call out the next day to replenish our stock because we had gone through so much,” she explained.

In response to the crisis, Island Health assisted in restocking naloxone at the shelter, although they did not experience a shortage themselves. Kapela attributed the increased number of poisonings to particularly dangerous drugs circulating in the area. “Whatever was in that particular supply was very, very toxic and dangerous,” she remarked.

Following the surge in overdoses, Island Health issued a drug poisoning overdose advisory, alerting residents in the Cowichan Valley to the heightened risks associated with using unregulated substances. The advisory included resources for safer drug use, such as information on supervised consumption sites and drug-checking services.

As of September 30, there were an estimated 1,384 unregulated drug deaths in British Columbia this year. This statistic marks a decline of 31 percent compared to two years ago, part of a broader trend seen across much of North America. Notably, nearly half of the deaths occurred in private homes, with 21 percent happening outdoors.

Kapela emphasized the need for comprehensive support systems to prevent such crises in the future. She stated that providing individuals with stable housing and adequate support would significantly reduce the risk of overdose incidents. “We know what to do to keep people safe,” she said. “If we could get people housed and taken care of properly, then we could avoid situations like this quite well.”

The recent surge in overdoses in Cowichan Valley reflects ongoing challenges related to drug use and public health in British Columbia, underscoring the urgent need for effective policy and support systems to address this critical issue.