{"id":1693,"date":"2021-06-14T21:18:53","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T21:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bccdcfound.wpengine.com\/whats-new\/help-put-an-end-to-bcs-overdose-crisis-support-peers-on-the-frontlines\/"},"modified":"2024-02-06T22:57:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T22:57:15","slug":"help-put-an-end-to-bcs-overdose-crisis-support-peers-on-the-frontlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacificpublichealth.ca\/whats-new\/help-put-an-end-to-bcs-overdose-crisis-support-peers-on-the-frontlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Put an End to BC\u2019s Overdose Crisis: Support Peers on the Frontlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2020 served as a record-breaking year in lives lost to the overdose crisis. Over 1700 people died from overdose in BC, a 74% increase from 2019.

And the numbers have only increased in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: BC Coroners Service<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In April 2021 alone, nearly 6 (5.9) people died each day\u2014the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in the month of April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overdose crisis is worsening because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a staggering increase in overdoses and deaths, and First Nations people in BC are disproportionately and severely impacted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The devastating impact of the toxic drug crisis on BC\u2019s First Nations people, families, and communities cannot be ignored. This issue will not be resolved without the continued support and commitment of health service partners, and First Nations leaders. We must continue to work together to reduce the impact of drug toxicity on First Nations people.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n-Richard Jock, CEO of the First Nations Health Authority<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: First Nations Health Authority<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Compassion, Inclusion, & Engagement<\/strong> (CIE) is a partnership program between the BC Centre for Disease Control, the First Nations Health Authority, and the BCCDC Foundation, that empowers people with lived and living experience of substance use (peers) to take action and stop overdose in their community. The work that peers do is based in public health, saving lives, and ending the overdose crisis.

You can help protect lives in BC by donating to CIE today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How CIE supports peers and makes an immediate impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n