International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign whose goal is to end overdose, remember (without stigma) those who have died, and to acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
This year’s theme is Together, We Can, which highlights the strength that we have, when we all join together as a community, because no one should stand alone in the fight to end overdose.
What is an Overdose?
An overdose occurs when a person has more of a drug (or drugs) in their body than the body can cope with. All drugs can cause an overdose, including medication prescribed by a doctor.
Overdoses can look differently, depending on what drug (including alcohol) is used. If you want to learn about how to respond to an overdose, by drug type, you can download this full set of fact sheets.
Drug misuse can lead to brain injury. Hypoxic brain injury, which is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain (known as a hypoxic brain injury), is an under-reported consequence of overdose. Hypoxia can lead to coma, seizures, and death.
Overdose Statistics
Opioids account for 69% of drug overdose deaths. The estimated number of people using opioids, globally, has doubled from 26–36 million people in 2010, to 61.3 million in 2020.
In Canada
There were 7,525 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada in 2022, which is a rate of 19.3 deaths per 100,000 population. This rate increased from January–June 2023 to a rate of 21.2 per 100,000 population.
Most deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
In 2022, fentanyl was responsible for 81% of opioid-overdose deaths in Canada.
In BC
In 2023, 368 people in BC, under the age of 29, died due to the toxic drug supply.
Overdose Risk Factors
Some of the main risk factors of drug overdose are:
- Using more than one drug at a time or sequentially
- Redosing too soon
- Contaminated drug supply
- Dependence or addiction to a substance or drug
- Changes in tolerance (e.g., using drugs again after a period of abstinence or even after a break as short as two or three days)
- A lowered immune system or chronic health condition such as obesity or heart disease
- Using a higher dose of a drug than usual
- Using alone or in an unfamiliar place
- A history of overdose
In addition, social stigma can play a role in overdoses as an individual may hide their use, or refuse to seek treatment or support, for fear of judgement or discrimination. This may lead to an individual using drugs alone, which is a risk. Knowing the risks means that informed decisions can be made to change or avoid the conditions in which overdose may be more likely to occur.
Overdose Prevention
There are evidence-based strategies and initiatives in place around the world to reduce overdose. Some examples of these are:
- Naloxone (Narcan®) distribution programs
- Safe consumption/injection sites
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Needle and syringe programs
- Drug testing services which analyze drugs to uncover any potentially dangerous substances
It is important for communities to understand the risks of overdose and what prevention services are available in their region. It is also important for community members to advocate for prevention and push for legislation that will prevent future overdoses.
Low-Barrier Programs and Services at CHV
Low barrier basically means that we remove any obstacle that stops a young person from accessing our programs and services.
Drop-In Centre
To access the services available at the Drop-In Centre, the only mandate is that youth need to be within the age range of 16 –24.
The Drop-In Centre is open seven days a week and offers a comprehensive array of supports, each a crucial component in the journey towards stability and well-being.
From Covey’s Cupboard, our free grocery pantry, to showers, washrooms, and laundry facilities, the Drop-In Centre provides basic necessities that are often taken for granted.
The quiet room provides youth with a space to relax, while computers are used to communicate with loved ones, search for housing, or work on a resume.
One-on-one support from our dedicated staff and counsellors ensures personalized attention, while primary care and physical health services address the holistic well-being of youth.
Recognizing the pressing reality of the ongoing toxic drug supply crisis, we make sure that our Drop-In Centre is stocked with crucial harm reduction tools like naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. It’s a testament to our deep commitment to keep our community safe and healthy, and for young people, knowing this kind of support is available could make the difference between life and death. A young person may find the courage to reach out for help with their substance use, and when that happens, our staff are there to listen and guide youth towards our new Foundations program — a warm and welcoming seven-bed program tailored to young folks who want to address their substance use in a supportive environment.
Foundations Program
The Foundations program was conceived to support youth who have identified that working on their substance use is a primary goal. It is a program designed for youth who do not require medical detox and is a residential program that is based on harm reduction. Young people will focus on whole person wellness and wraparound care supports that use a tailored, one-size-fits-one basis and will be guided by each young persons individualized goals and case planning. Like our overall approach to care at Covenant House Vancouver, this helps ensure that precise supports and care are made available at the right time for youth, based on their journeys and specific needs.
Youth accessing this program will be offered a wide range of trauma-informed, harm reduction care. Some of the services include:
- Counselling
- Case management team support
- Substance use care, including harm reduction services
- Individual, group, and drop-in therapeutic opportunities
- Art therapy
- Recreation and wellness activities
- Access to a social worker
- Family support work as appropriate
- Access to life skills opportunities
- Access to cultural and spiritual supports
- Access to the gym
- 24/7 staffing
- Nutritious meals and snacks
Foundations is a referral program and referrals are made through VCH’s Central Addiction Intake Team, to ensure a comprehensive assessment process and tailored supports for each youth’s journey and specific needs.
Sanctuary Program
The Sanctuary program is designed to help young people ages 16–24 who present with significant substance use and mental health concerns. Sanctuary will serve as an entry-level program to not only build the trusting, healthy relationships of care that are so critical for sustainable and successful recovery, but also to connect young people with services and support potential transitions towards more structured programs along CHV’s continuum of care.
There are 28 beds in the Sanctuary program. Youth can self-refer to enter this program, or they can be referred by healthcare professional. Five of the 28 beds are reserved for healthcare referrals.
Sanctuary is our lowest-barrier program available. While every youth participant will have access to clinical supports on a drop-in basis, no program framework, expectations, or requirements are implemented, imposed, or made, unless led by the individual youth.
Youth who participate in the Sanctuary program will receive our attachment-based wraparound services and will have access to staff and facilities that include: social workers, counsellors, computers, gymnasium, fitness room, and hygiene and harm-reduction supplies.
Overdose prevention takes a community. From the federal government to individual community members, we must all work together to reduce, and ideally eliminate, overdoses. We can’t do it individually, but Together, We Can.