First Nations people in B.C. continue to be hit harder by toxic drug crisis, statistics show

First Nations people continued to diefrom toxic drugs at a higher rate thannon-First Nations people in British Columbia in the first six months of2023, according to the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).

First Nations peopledied at six times the rate of non-First Nations people from January to June 2023while the number ofFirst Nations people who died from toxic drugsincreased by 24.7 per centcompared tothe same period in 2022.

"It's painful to talk about these numbers because they're not just numbers, they're people, people who are loved and people who had potential futures ahead of them," said Dr. Nel Wieman,chief medical officer for the First Nations Health Authority.

The FNHA plans, designs, manages, and funds the delivery of First Nations health programs and services in B.C. Ten years ago itassumed the programs, services, and responsibilities formerly handled bythe federal government's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch in B.C.

The First Nations Health Authority has not yet released total numbers for 2023, but Wieman said more than 400 First Nations people died due to toxic drugs last year. The FNHA says 373 First Nations people died in 2022.

Data released from the B.C.Coroners Service in January said in 2023 there were at total of 2,511 suspected illicit drug deaths, making an average of nearly seven deaths per day.

First Nations people make up just over threeper cent of thepopulation of British Columbia but made up 17.7 per cent of toxic drug deaths in the first six months of 2023, according to the FNHA.

Wieman said the demographics of the toxic drug deaths differ among First Nations peoplecompared to the rest of the population.

First Nations women are disproportionately impacted by the toxic drug crisis, dying at a rate 11.9 times higher than non-First Nations women in B.C. in the first six months of 2023. The rate of toxic drug deaths among First Nations men was4.6 times the rate for non-First Nations men.

Among non-First Nations people in B.C.,menmake up about 77 per cent of toxic drug deaths.Wieman saidamong First Nations people, it is about a 50/50 split between male and female.

"In some places, actually, females die at higher rates than males," said Wieman.

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As she heads into retirement, B.C.'s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says she worries that the political winds have turned against drug decriminalization, and that people who oppose it don't understand how safe supply saves lives.

Wieman said efforts to tacklethe toxic drug crisis areunderfunded compared to other medical crises, something she blames onstigmaaboutpeople who use substances.

"The COVID pandemic was a public health emergency for three years and when you look at the resources that were thrown into the COVID the numbers don't compare in terms of funding," said Wieman.

Last year Health Canada enacted a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act allowing adult drug users in B.C. to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy for personal use.

Wieman saiddecriminalization is meant to reduce stigma and keep people from using alone.

"We need to keep people alive so that they can consider their choices," said Wieman.

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James Harry started bringing lunches to people in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside during the pandemic, but he knows hes delivering more than food. He shows CBCs Wawmeesh Hamilton how hes also bringing a little bit of Haisla First Nation culture and hospitality.

James Harry, executive director of All Nations Outreachand a member of the Haisla and Homalco nations, workswithpeople who are struggling in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

"We're losing so many people," said Harry.

At least once a day Harry makes his rounds near the corner of Main Street and East Hastings handing out food and talking to people.A lot of what Harry does is keeping track of Indigenous people living in the Downtown Eastside.

For six years, Harry worked as an outreach worker for the Haisla Nation to keep track of people who were from their communitybut recently moved full time to All Nations Outreach.

"I believe this outreach is a missing link in our communities," said Harry.