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31 January 2025

Coroner Calls For Urgent Action After Teen's Opioid Death

Mathis Boivin's tragic passing highlights the need for consistent prevention efforts across schools

A recent coroner's report has underscored the urgent need for improved prevention programs against opioid use among young people, ignited by the tragic death of 15-year-old Mathis Boivin. Found dead on December 22, 2023, after consuming what he believed was oxycodone, Mathis's demise from N-desethyl-isotonitazene poisoning is now being viewed as a call to action.

Coroner Stéphanie Gamache, who investigated Mathis's death, pointed out the varied approaches schools take toward drug education and prevention. Some institutions have proactively stocked naloxone kits but many others remain out of touch, lacking evident strategies to connect with public health initiatives. This inconsistency raises alarm as drug-related deaths surge across North America, especially among teenagers.

“Do they not feel concerned by the problem?” questioned Gamache, emphasizing the need for standardized responses to drug use among students. She noted numerous warning signs concerning Mathis's behavior, which could have led to timely intervention. “Mathis might also have been able to recognize signs of an overdose on the evening of December 21, 2023, and his death might have been possibly avoided,” she stated.

Her reflections resonate with Mathis's father, Christian Boivin, who has since turned his grief toward advocacy. He has tirelessly visited local schools, emphasizing the importance of education and open conversations about drug use. “It's the school leaders who decide if or if not they are doing prevention [work] and, if so, how they do it. So it's not uniform, that's the problem,” he explained. “We have to give them tools to prevent accidents like the death of Mathis.”

Data from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction shows the staggering reality of opioid misuse: 94 percent of opioid-related deaths are deemed accidental and hence preventable. Gamache highlighted this societal responsibility to take collective action against opioid dependency, pushing for all schools to collaborate on prevention initiatives.

The urgency behind addressing this crisis is mirrored across Canada, particularly seen through unsettling statistics from British Columbia. The province has declared states of emergency due to the overdose crisis as numbers continue to escalate. Starting from 330 deaths recorded in 1993, the toll rose to 997 by 2016 and then surged again to 2,574 lives lost by 2023. This trend signifies the unregulated drug crisis claiming lives at alarming rates – up to 200 people dying every month.

A recent speaker series titled “Out of Harm’s Way,” hosted by Peers Victoria Resources Society, seeks to confront the issue head-on by exploring its origins and potential solutions. A packed venue bore witness to discussions led by individuals with extensive experience related to the opioid crisis, evidencing the shared sentiment of urgency.

“I can't think there are very few issues more important than 2,000 people dying every year because the drug supply is toxic,” proclaimed Jody Paterson, co-organizer of the event. “There is still really no major hope on the horizon, so major change has to happen.”

One of the panel speakers, Dr. Perry Kendall, illuminated the grim reality tied to the unpredictability of the street drug supply, which now heavily features fentanyl and its analogs. Katy Booth, from the University of Victoria’s drug-checking project, echoed these concerns, reporting how over 65 percent of tested samples included benzodiazepines, indicating dangerous shifts in drug composition.

Taking its origins as far back as 2009, fentanyl's early emergence drastically changed overdose patterns, which have only worsened with time. By 2023, it was present in 85 percent of toxicity tests related to overdoses. Such alarming figures have deeply affected communities, contributing to decreased lifespan among vulnerable populations, such as B.C.’s First Nations.

The grim statistics served as catalysts for the community’s rallying call for change, leading to more initiatives aimed at providing support and educational outreach. With events planned for February and March, organizers aim to reshape public discussions around the crisis, instilling urgency across all socioeconomic and community backgrounds.

Coroner Gamache’s pressing message and the advocacy efforts led by Mathis Boivin’s family remind us of the collective responsibility society bears. The loss of Mathis, and many like him, should hand-in-hand accentuate the importance of dialogue, education, and life-saving preventative measures.

His story resonates as part of the wider narrative on the urgency of addressing the opioid crisis, as families brace for another round of grief and potential loss if significant changes and preventive strategies are not employed soon. Mathis's father, through his advocacy, hopes to guide others away from the tragedy his family suffered, and perhaps lead to reforms ensuring all students receive necessary tools to understand and evade the dangers of drug misuse.