Illicit drug deaths soar for First Nations during COVID-19 pandemic

COAST SALISH TERRITORY — The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a deadly toll on First Nations Communities.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) says suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths spiked between January and May this year claiming 89 First Nations individuals This is a 93 per cent increase in deaths compared to the same period last year.

The FNHA points out that First Nations people represents 3.4 per cent of the province’s population yet accounted for a staggering 16 per cent of all overdose deaths over that time period.

So far, First Nations individuals have died at 5.6 times the rate of other B.C. residents, while in 2019 the ratio was 3.8