Yukon chief coroner Heather Jones has confirmed that four more deaths related to substance use have recently occurred in the territory.

Jones emailed confirmation of the sad news to the Star on Monday.

“Yukon Coroner’s Service is investigating eight deaths which occurred between April 7 and 27th, all are suspected to be related to substance use,” she wrote.

“We hope to have preliminary toxicological analysis for all cases by the end of this week. Full analysis will not be available for a number of months.”

On Apr. 20, Jones reported that substance use was believed to have taken four Yukoners’ lives between Apr. 15 and Apr. 18.

Two of the deceased were from Whitehorse, one from Watson Lake and one from Haines Junction.

They were between 27 and 52 years old, and three were members of First Nations.

Meanwhile, the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre issued the following alert on Facebook and Instagram last Friday:

“This week there have been an increased number of overdoses reported in the community.

“We have also tested a few opioid samples that contain higher then average percentages of fentanyl and are also benzo-positive. High concentrations of fentanyl and benzos increase the risk and severity of overdose.”

Cameron Grandy, the Yukon government’s director of mental wellness and substance use services, and Dr. Derek Bryant have publicly warned substance users of a mounting toxicity in the territory’s illicit drug supply.

Grandy spoke with the Star Monday about what he’s calling a “wave” of increased toxicity in drugs in the Yukon.

“Just as Dr. Bryant, who is the clinical lead of opioid treatment services, mentioned, we do see waves or varying toxicities at times and again, to be clear, that’s never to suggest that if you don’t hear that, it’s because the drug supply is safe,” Grandy said.

“But we did see an increase in what appear to be opioid-related overdoses and in deaths.

“Again, I’m not the coroner … there has to be some sort of investigation when those things happen. But it really was enough that, in speaking with our partners at Blood Ties as well, we just wanted to really get the message out that treatment options and harm reduction options and help is available.”

Grandy attributes an increase in overdoses to a varied illicit drug supply.

“That means that the toxicity of drugs can vary as well, and particularly fentanyl is one whose potency is very concerning, in terms of when it’s ingested, it can cause you to stop breathing.

“And then sometimes we do see a lot of poly substance use in the territory, so people might be using multiple substances at once and there can be also adulterants in the drug supply,” Grandy added.

“I know Dr. Bryant spoke about that, such as benzodiazepines can also lead to people having ingested something they didn’t know in quantities in concentrations that they were not used to, or might have a different substance in it.”

Adulterants are potentially harmful substances added that people may not be aware of.

Grandy confirmed that there is a rise in fentanyl content in Yukon street drugs.

“It looks as though yes, that there’s changes in the potency or the strength of the fentanyl in the street drugs. I wouldn’t be the one to tell you why it gets created that way.”

Grandy did say he thinks there are different reasons, and mentioned, “We’ve got a fairly high substance use rate.”

Asked if there is any way to ensure a safe supply of drugs, Grandy said the gold standard is having access to opioid replacement therapies, also known as opioid agonist therapies.

“Through this, you may also be provided a safe supply to help you reduce the harm of coming into contact with the toxic drug supply.”

Grandy explained his recommended approach for people using drugs.

“I would emphasize that please use with somebody. Naloxone really does save lives. You can please pick up a naloxone kit.

“Whether you are somebody who uses drugs, who might use drugs, or whether you’re anybody who is in close contact with somebody who may use drugs, or you just want to have one to make sure that you are able to save a life,” Grandy said.

“And you can get one from the Referred Care Clinic. You can get them at hospitals, pharmacies, many First Nations health programs and communities, mental wellness and substance use locations in communities.”

The supervised consumption site on Sixth Avenue keeps a healthy stock of them on hand, and the outreach van provides them. Blood Ties Four Directions, the Whitehorse emergency shelter and Emergency Medical Services, paramedics also carry them.

The Referred Care Clinic is located at 210 Elliott St.

Regarding testing, Grandy said, “You can get your drugs tested and by connecting with Blood Ties Four Directions, you can do them at (the) supervised consumption site.

“I know that Emergency Medical Services will support people to get their drugs tested at the Whitehorse emergency shelter, with Connected (the shelter operator).

“The other thing is connecting with some kind of care support,” he said. “Opioid Treatment Services is a service that can provide you with a prescriber, a doctor or nurse practitioner and wraparound supports to help meet your needs, and you really get to be a driver in that health care, but you do not need to be referred by a physician or referred by someone to get to Opioid Treatment Services.”

Anyone can call 668-2552 to book an appointment. Staff will get you in as soon as they can to see what they can do both medically, and in terms of psychological and social supports.”

Grandy added, “If I can give people a recommendation, it’s just to please reach out and don’t feel like you have to battle – live with this on your own.”

Opioid Treatment Services is also located at 210 Elliott St.

Grandy was asked if more can be done for the prevention and treatment of addiction to drugs.

“Always,” he replied. “I think we need to continue to learn from people who use drugs and to learn from the systems who support people and learn from the families and the communities of people who are either susceptible to this or exposed to this.

“That’s really what the (January 2022) substance use health emergency declaration is around – all available collaborative efforts and supports to address the problem.”

Grandy also listed education, prevention, communications and messaging as ways of “making sure that not only the right supports are available, but that we support people to get to the help they need from all levels.”

Regarding preventing youth from getting into drugs in the first place, Grandy said, “In addition, with many other different interventions, and prevention measures, I think education is one of the tools that we need to use.”

Grandy said his department’s focus is on harm reduction, not enforcement.

“We work, obviously, with RCMP, with justice partners at mental illness and substance use services. We do of course, want to work on the prevention side of things, and partner with communities and with agencies to create really good – and I really believe that prevention starts pre-birth.”

Grandy said his department focuses on “the treatment kind of approach and the treatment pillar and that’s for people who really want to change their relationship with substances.

“They might want to quit completely or get healthier. And so we have counsellors and we have nurses. You can come and have a live-in treatment program. We have withdrawal management support workers and nurses.

“And then mental wellness and substance use does play a big part in the harm reduction component. So we provide the naloxone kits and safer-using supplies and work closely with Blood Ties and other agencies to really help people use more safely each day.”

Grandy emphasized that “yes, harm reduction is important. Absolutely, treatment is important. Absolutely, prevention is important, as well as the community safety.”

He was asked if he’d like to see more money go into harm reduction.

Grandy responded, “I think it’s a multi-pronged, community-based approach. It really is sort of an all hands on deck thing.”

Grandy added that his department normally doesn’t like to put out alerts about toxic drugs in the territory.

“I don’t want people to think that because there’s no alerts, we’re safe. Because of the nature of them, It could affect anybody at any time.”

The number, again, to call Opioid Treatment Services or Connected is 668-2552.

The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) number is 1-888-688-NORS (6677).