> Mortality patterns from unintentional poisoning have been of particular interest, as there is evidence in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia that substance use has increased in 2020 compared with previous years, while availability and access to harm reduction programs, supervised consumption services, and in-person support services for substance use may have been disrupted during the pandemic. Deaths from accidental poisoning can include different circumstances such as individuals using substances recreationally along with those who mistakenly ingest too much prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Kind of understating things here. There's a toxic drug crisis in this country and it has killed thousands upon thousands in recent years. This was happening well before the pandemic.

Literally 5 people every day in British Columbia are dying due to overdoses, directly related from the fact that the drugs are poisoned, not what they appear, and it has become impossible to ascertain a correct dosage.

This should be an election issue (Canada is having an election issue atm) but sadly it won't be. BC's health officer, who everyone has listened to during this pandemic, has begged the Federal government (the Province and City of Vancouver also begging) to decriminalize drugs to help with this issue, but the Feds have done nothing.