10 years of Toxic Drug Loss: Reflections from a social worker

18,239 people have died from toxic drug poisoning in the last ten years in B.C. It can be easy to read this statistic and disconnect from the realities of what it means.

18,239 families and communities experienced immeasurable loss.

18,239 families and loved ones must grapple with grief, anger, and sadness.

18,239 people died due to an unregulated drug supply.

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in British Columbia for persons aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined.

When did the shift happen?

When I first began working in harm reduction in 2015 my colleagues and mentors shared with me that in their decades of work in this field they had responded to one or two toxic drug poisonings total. Within my first week at that job, we saw multiple. This was the beginning of the public health emergency. It was a stark and drastic shift in drug supply that forced communities and providers to look at innovation on how we could support folks using substances.

Declaring a public health emergency was the beginning of acknowledging the immense loss we were witnessing in our communities. Increased data sharing, de-scheduling of naloxone, and orders to stand up overdose prevention sites felt like we were moving in the right direction. A decade later we still have a long way to go to reduce deaths and harms associated with the unregulated drug supply.

Why? The toxic drug crisis invokes stigma, moral panic, and blame for individuals around their cause of death. Substance use is so heavily stigmatized. We know from the coroner's data that the majority of people dying of toxic drug poisoning are dying inside of their homes. Predominantly men ages 19-59.

The idea of unregulated substance use brings up a lot of feelings for people and creates a picture of who someone is that uses unregulated substances. This makes reaching out for support around substance use more difficult and for loved ones makes grief much more complicated.

What is Disenfranchised grief?

Disenfranchised grief is grief that society doesn't openly acknowledge or publicly mourn due to cultural beliefs, social norms, or judgements about the loss. It's grief that feels unrecognized, unsupported, and often stigmatized — leaving bereaved families feeling isolated in their pain.

When someone dies from toxic drug poisoning, families often face additional layers of complexity in their grief process. The stigma surrounding substance use creates shame that can cloud the mourning process, making it difficult to access the support and validation that all grieving people deserve.

Your loved one's life had value. They were someone's child, sibling, parent, friend — a person with hopes, dreams, talents, and love to give. Their death represents not just a personal loss but a systemic failure that affects entire communities here in Fraser Valley and across British Columbia.

As you navigate this difficult journey, remember:

Your grief deserves recognition and support Healing happens at your own pace, not society's timeline Taking action is one option, but not a requirement for valid grieving Professional support can provide tools and perspective when you're ready.

As service providers who support people that use unregulated drugs it can be difficult for us to express and acknowledge our own grief. The loss is constant and sits among inequity and other systemic challenges that we witness daily for the people we serve. For those of us with lived or living experience of substance use that do this work grief sits in various places both in professional and personal lives.

So how to process disenfranchised grief?

1. Take Up Space and Grieve Fully

+ Claiming your right to mourn openly and completely, without shame or apology.

Society may try to minimize your loss, but your grief deserves full expression. Research in grief counselling shows that suppressed or minimized grief often leads to more complex healing journeys.

+ Set aside dedicated time for grieving — whether that's crying, journaling, or sitting with memories Share stories about your loved one that highlight their full humanity Create meaningful rituals or memorials that honour their life Refuse to minimize your pain when others suggest you "move on"

+ Family or community members may not understand your need to grieve openly. Start with trusted supporters and gradually expand your circle of understanding.

2. Take Support on Your Own Terms

+ Allowing yourself to receive help while setting boundaries about what kind of support feels helpful versus harmful.

+ Grief support for stigmatized loss requires extra discernment. Not everyone will understand your experience, but the right support can be profoundly healing.

+ Identify 2-3 people who can provide non-judgmental listening Join grief support groups specifically for families affected by substance use Consider professional counselling with therapists experienced in substance use and grief Set clear boundaries with people who offer unhelpful advice or judgment

You may feel like a burden or worry about overwhelming others. Remember that accepting support is not weakness. It's wisdom.

3. Take Action and Find Community

+ Channeling grief energy into advocacy, policy change, or community building when and if it feels right for you.

+ Many families find that taking action helps transform their pain into purpose while connecting them with others who understand their experience.

+ Connect with Moms Stop the Harm for peer support and advocacy opportunities

+ Engage with local Drug User Organizations to learn about harm reduction advocacy + Listen to Crackdown podcast to understand the broader context of this emergency + Advocate for policy changes that could prevent future losses + Share your story when you feel ready and supported

Local advocacy opportunities: + Fraser Valley Harm Reduction groups working on policy change

+ Safe supply advocacy through local health authorities Stigma reduction initiatives in

+ Abbotsford and Chilliwack communities

How do we keep going?

I want to offer hope. As I have learnt from my mentors and colleagues over the last 11 years in this field progress and social change do not happen overnight. The pendulum has swung into a less evidence informed political direction but harm reduction and its advocates are still fighting. The ways in which we talk about substance use matter. The ways in which we talk about people that use drugs matter. We all have opportunities to disrupt stigma and advocate for change and better drug policies which will directly lead to better health outcomes for our loved ones.

You don't have to grieve alone. Whether you're in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, or anywhere in Fraser Valley, compassionate support is available to help you honour both your loved one's memory and your own healing process.

Local Fraser Valley Support

Eterna Counselling; Specialized grief and trauma therapy in Abbotsford Fraser Health

Bereavement Services; Group and individual support

Chilliwack Community Services; Various support programs Abbotsford Hospice Society

Advocacy & Crisis Support

Moms Stop the Harm; Peer support and policy advocacy

Crackdown Podcast; Educational resource about drug policy in BC Local Drug User

Organizations; Community-led harm reduction advocacy

Crisis Services Canada; 1-833-456-4566 Fraser Health Mental Health Line: 1-877-820-7444 BC Bereavement Helpline: 1-877-779-2223