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.

That含羞草研究社檚 according to Dr. Sandra Allison, one of the Island含羞草研究社檚 medical health officers.

含羞草研究社淧rovincially, we are seeing some of our highest numbers ever. I think across the province, everyone is concerned,含羞草研究社� she said during a Thursday video conference with media. 含羞草研究社淚sland Health is experiencing some of their highest numbers ever, so we quite possibly could be the worst point ever.含羞草研究社�

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 coroner含羞草研究社檚 reports.

含羞草研究社淭his week marks another week of worrisome indicators that we watch for as medical health officers,含羞草研究社� Allison said.

When asked if any drugs in particular are causing the recent overdoses, the medical health officer pointed to coroner含羞草研究社檚 reports that show fentanyl and its analogues (similar drugs) were found in 80 per cent of last year含羞草研究社檚 illicit toxic drug deaths.

含羞草研究社淲e are seeing high levels of these analogues of fentanyl, as well as high levels of strong benzodiazepines in the street supply,含羞草研究社� she said.

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

含羞草研究社淲e have to have a better understanding about why people have these behaviors and be accepting of them so people don含羞草研究社檛 (use substances) in shame and in stigma and all alone 含羞草研究社� and that含羞草研究社檚 where they含羞草研究社檙e dying,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� Allison said. 含羞草研究社淢edical health officers across the province and across the country are strongly in support of a safe supply because we believe that it含羞草研究社檚 an unsafe, toxic drug supply that含羞草研究社檚 killing people.含羞草研究社�

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