For the second year in a row, illicit drugs have taken the lives of 25 Yukoners, according to the territory’s chief coroner.

“Each one of these deaths is a tragedy, and our communities continue to struggle with the grief and pain associated with the loss of life from the substance use health crisis,” the Yukon Coroner’s Service said Thursday afternoon.

In a territory of roughly 40,000 people, these numbers are particularly prominent. 

“Our territory continues to lead the country with per-capita toxic illicit drug-related deaths,” according to a release.

The territory declared a “substance-use health emergency” last January following a “drastic increase in overdose related deaths in the territory,” a Department of Health and Social Services release stated at the time. Within a month of that announcement, opioids had caused the deaths of nine Yukoners in 2022. 

Though the government considers use of all “toxic illicit drugs” part of the health emergency, opioids are a major concern.

Opioids were present in 20 of this year’s 25 drug-related deaths – fentanyl, the most common opioid found in these deaths, was involved in 19.

Cocaine, benzodiazepines and alcohol were also confirmed in a number of deaths, often mixed with opioids. 

The territory has now recorded 76 opioid-related deaths since April 2016. More than half those deaths have happened in the last two years.

“This crisis is affecting all of us in the Yukon,” said chief coroner Heather Jones.

In light of these latest numbers, the Coroner’s Service cautioned Yukoners to be careful about drug use at this time of year.

“Although the holidays can be a time of celebration, we know that many people experience difficulties during this time of year and might be at risk if they are alone and using such substances,” she said.

“It is important that we are there for one another and offer our supports and our kindness to each other.”

Jones urged anyone tempted to use, or struggling with drugs, to reach out to family and friends, and access one of the territory’s support services.

Although she said the territory is still firmly in a crisis, she acknowledged that positive steps have been taken to combat it.

In September 2021, the Yukon government opened a supervised site for people to use toxic drugs in a safe environment.

The site, on Sixth Avenue near Cook Street, offers a range of harm reduction and social services, like drug testing, medical care, safe equipment, counseling and access to naloxone, a fast-acting drug that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.

Opioid Treatment Services can be reached at 668-2552 and the Yukon’s Overdose Outreach team can be reached at 333-9717.

All communities also have access to services through Mental Wellness and Substance-Use Services Hubs in Carmacks, Dawson City, Haines Junction, Carcross or Watson Lake.

Jones said preventing future deaths will require understanding and community.

“Now, more than ever, we must remember to show our compassion, kindness and support to anyone struggling with substance use,” she said.

‘It is important that we all work together to help each other as we grieve these losses across our territory.

“The Yukon Coroner’s Service sends our deepest condolences to all the families and communities who continue to be so severely impacted by these tragic deaths,” said Jones.

She also spoke early Thursday afternoon at Hospice Yukon’s Lights of Life gathering.

Jones acknowledged the substance use emergency in her talk, saying lives lost to opioids and other illicit drugs have added to the grief felt in Yukon communities this 
time of year.

Thursday’s statement provided these specifics about this year’s and last year’s deaths:

20 are confirmed to be opioid involved, with fentanyl present in 19 of the cases and cocaine in combination with an opioid being present in 14 cases, with a full analysis pending on one case;

• benzodiazapines, or “benzos” have been confirmed in six cases;

• cocaine and its use have been found in five cases not involving opioids: and

• alcohol was discovered to be a factor in at least seven cases.

Of the 25 deaths in 2021:

• 24 of these cases were opioid-involved and fentanyl was found in all of these cases;

• cocaine was involved in 16 of these cases;

• benzos were present in five of these cases;

• alcohol was found to be a factor in 11 cases; and

• carfentanil was present in two cases.