A particularly toxic supply of illicit drugs hit the streets of Cowichan Valley in mid November that led to more than 80 overdose calls in one night. The following day, first responders continued to treat overdoses in Duncan, so many that the local Naloxone supply was depleted.
With emergency services pressed to the max, a call was made to neighboring communities for Naloxone kits. A toxic drug alert for the Cowichan Valley was issued a day later, on November 19. Two days later an alert was issued for the city of Nanaimo.
On November 26 health officials extended the Drug Poisoning Alert for the Cowichan area, saying there are higher rates of drug poisonings in the community.
Sadly, despite the alerts, another Nuu-chah-nulth life was lost December 8 in Nanaimo, leaving a family heading into the holiday season heartbroken.
“I’m saddened to hear of another Nuu-chah-nulth persons life taken too soon,” said Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Vice-President Les Doiron.
The former Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ elected chief is all to familiar with the pain, having suffered the loss of some loved ones to the illicit drug epidemic.
According to a BC Coroner’s Service report issued December 5, there were 150 suspected unregulated drug deaths in British Columbia during the month of October.
The report says about 70 per cent of the deaths are people between the ages of 30 to 59. Of that number, 77 percent are male.
The numbers from October represent a fatal overdose rate of under five people a day. This indicates a gradual decline from when fatalities peaked in 2023, putting this year on pace to have the lowest number of deaths since 2020.
But 2025 also brings a disturbing trend.
“[T]here has been an increase in youth (under 19 years) suspected drug toxicity deaths with 21 deaths between January to October compared to 17 deaths in the same period in 2024,” states the report.
The illicit drug epidemic is global and is taxing public health systems around the world with the widespread availability of high potency synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl. And it seems there is no end in sight.
The provincial government offers services to help people with recovery and harm reduction. For Vancouver Island, Islandhealth.ca has a website full of information from recovery options to information for safe consumption, including access to Naloxone kits and addresses for local supervised consumption sites.
One thing that has been proven to help is Safe Consumption or Overdose Prevention Sites. There are several such sites on Vancouver Island and they receive thousands of clients. The BC Centre for Disease Control reports that there were 23,000 visits to Island Health’s OPS sites during March 2025 alone.
In March and April 2025, 38 overdoses were recorded in all Vancouver Island OPS facilities. Of those overdoses, there were no deaths. In fact, in British Columbia there has been only one recorded overdose death in an OPS facility since 2017, and that was back in 2022.
Doiron is all to aware of what this means.
“The message I have taken away from friends and family is, don’t use alone,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa.
He urges people to check on their loved ones who are struggling in the streets.
“I’ve learned that it goes way beyond the person it’s taken – our parents, siblings, friends and community are all subject to the pain of losing a family member,” he shared.
As tough as it is, Doiron asks people to never ever give up on loved ones out on the streets.
“Your kindness and words can be that light that is needed in the darkness of addiction,” he said.
Doiron has been active on health issues for Nuu-chah-nulth-aht, including the opioid crisis. He offers his condolences to the families that have lost loved ones.
“I’m around if ever I can help,” he said.
To receive toxic drug supply alerts on your device, in British Columbia text the word "JOIN" to 253787 (ALERTS).
This free service provides real-time, anonymous information about highly toxic substances circulating in specific communities and regions of B.C.
Towardtheheart.com is a service of the BC Centre for Disease Control offering free toxic drug supply alerts via text message. People may also receive information through texts about where they may have their drugs tested or where to find Naloxone.
Overdose Prevention Sites are locations where people can use uncontrolled substances under supervision by trained staff who can provide emergency response services if necessary. The Vancouver Island Health Authority website lists the locations of Safe Consumption or Overdose Prevention sites on the Island. The website contains helpful information about current toxic drug supply alerts in the province as well as safety recommendations for substance users.
