The Opioid Crisis and Its Impact on the Unhoused Population in Canada

The Report: A Staggering Rise in Opioid-related Deaths Among Unhoused People

A new study recently published via Western News suggests an alarming correlation between the opioid crisis in Canada and an escalating death toll in the unhoused population across the country due to drug overdoses, including opioids. The rise in opioid-related deaths in this population is unprecedented. This report illustrates a pivotal public health crisis within the broader opioid crisis that demands immediate community and policy focus.

The Study: Opioids and the Unhoused

This comprehensive provincial study in British Columbia indicated a significant surge of 50% in the number of unhoused people who died from opioid overdoses in 2020. The rise is dramatic and disturbing considering the overall number of deaths due to opioid-related causes across the province only increased by 5% over the same period. Clearly, the unhoused population is disproportionately affected, highlighting the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention efforts to combat the opioid epidemic among this vulnerable population.

Key Findings Include:

• Unhoused people constituted 20% of opioid-related deaths in 2020 within the province, up from just 4% in 2015.
• The study also revealed that over half of the deaths occurred in hotels, shelters, and rooming houses, emphasizing the need for harm reduction services in these areas.
• People experiencing homelessness have a dramatically higher death rate from opioid overdose than domiciled individuals: 11 times higher in women and 8 times higher in men.

Efforts to Combat the Rising Death Toll

This alarming rise in opioid-related deaths among the unhoused is a concern that has been factored into the wider national discussion. The over-arching opioid crisis has been heavily impacted by the Canadian government’s opioid class action lawsuit against several pharmaceutical manufacturers, which alleges fraudulent marketing practices that ultimately contributed to the epidemic.

Additionally on a local level, efforts to provide resources such as naloxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of opioids, and consumption sites are being scaled up. However, the study’s findings indicate the current efforts are not enough to address the problem among those without stable or safe housing. What is clearly required is a holistic approach that integrates a broad spectrum of harm reduction, health and social services, and improves access to these services for the unhoused.

The Intersection of Homelessness, Crime, and the Opioid Crisis

The relationship between homelessness, crime, and the opioid crisis is intricate and a clear source of concern. Homeless people are at increased risk for drug use, mental illness, and victimization, increasing their vulnerability to opioid addiction. They may resort to crime, whether for survival or to support their addiction, furthering their societal isolation and decreasing access to critical services. Given the proven potency of opioids and its devastating effect on this specific population, solutions must take into account this multifaceted issue.

In addition to increasing prevention and treatment services, there is a need for supportive housing and integrated care initiatives. A coordinated effort between social service agencies, local governments, and community stakeholders can help to address the root causes and correlates of homelessness to decrease vulnerability to drug misuse.

In Conclusion

This study provides an alarming snapshot of the extent of the opioid crisis among the unhoused in Canada, making it clear that current efforts are falling short. The staggering rise in opioid-related deaths among this vulnerable population must be viewed as a wakeup call to the urgent and focused action needed.

The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities throughout Canada, and the impact on unhoused populations has been particularly devastating. Strategies to combat this must include a focus on opioids, but they must also take a whole person approach. We need to address underlying systemic factors such as homelessness, crime, and health disparities if we hope to make a lasting change.

This will require efforts beyond just making naloxone kits available. It will require advancements in policy, societal attitudes, and resource allocation. It is an issue that requires a collective, persistent, and compassionate response from all of us. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those most affected by the opioid crisis.