A tragic incident has highlighted the growing crisis of synthetic opioid overdoses among youth in Canada, particularly focusing on the death of 15-year-old Mathis Boivin. According to reports by the Quebec Coroner's Office, Boivin's death, attributed to N-desethyl-isotonitazene poisoning—a potent synthetic opioid—should act as a wake-up call for schools and communities across the country.
Coroner Stéphanie Gamache stated, "Mathis's death should be sounding the alarm" on the urgent need to address opioid use and dependency among young people. Boivin died on December 22, 2023, following complications from opioid use, including bilateral pneumonia. Gamache's investigation revealed significant discrepancies in how schools approach drug prevention, with some institutions making naloxone available, and others lacking any form of collaboration with public health authorities.
Reflecting on the societal responsibility to combat opioid-related deaths, Gamache urged schools to recognize the complexity of the issue if they aim to play a significant role in prevention efforts. She noted, "It’s not uniform, that's the problem," highlighting the variations across educational institutions when it came to acknowledging and responding to drug use among students.
Mathis's father, Christian Boivin, echoed Gamache's sentiments, stating there is a pressing need to equip schools with tools to prevent overdoses. "It's the school leaders who decide if or if not they are doing prevention work," said Boivin. Since his son’s passing, he has become an advocate for drug awareness, visiting schools to share his experience and promote substance use prevention. "It makes [students] think a lot," he added, contrasting his personal account with conventional prevention approaches typically led by law enforcement.
Gamache, pointing to data from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, emphasized the tragic reality of opioid use, noting, "94 percent of deaths from opioid use are accidents, and, hence, preventable." The coroner lamented, "We can’t wait for the accumulation of deaths among young people to make this observation." Mathis, described as having previously been healthy, had been buying what he believed to be oxycodone just prior to his death, illustrating the deception often present within the unregulated drug market.
The state of the opioid crisis starkly contrasts with the situation just over the horizon, as British Columbia grapples with its own tragic scenarios. The region has declared its opioid crisis as one of the deadliest, with the reported count of overdose deaths reaching 2,574 by 2023. The Peers Victoria Resources Society is mobilizing community action through speaker events aimed at reshaping public narratives and responses to this crisis.
Jody Paterson, co-organizer of the event, stated, "I can't think there are very few issues more important than 2,000 people dying every year because the drug supply is toxic." Paterson noted the stakes have never been higher and emphasized the need for collective awakening around this crisis. Concerns have been raised about the increased presence of fentanyl and its analogs, which are responsible for the majority of opioid-related deaths, as more than 85 percent of toxicology tests from overdoses revealed their presence.
Booth, a researcher involved with drug-checking initiatives at the University of Victoria, elaborated on these dangers, explaining how the toxicity of the street supply has escalated. "We test over 9,000 samples in a year and saw a big shift where benzos came onto the market," she shared, indicating how the unregulated market continues to evolve, creating greater risks for users.
This grim reality isn't just limited to British Columbia; it resonates across Canada. The Public Health Agency has chronicled nearly 49,105 apparent opioid toxicity deaths since January 2016, and projections suggest high levels might persist at least through mid-2025. Such figures reflect the multifaceted nature of substance use and the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies.
Everyone is encouraged to take part—whether through advocacy, education, or open communication on the issues surrounding drug use and addiction. For parents, Gamache and representatives from public health services stress the importance of conversations with children about the risks associated with substance use. "More than ever, I urge parents to talk openly with their children about the risks associated with substance use," commented Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant.
This crisis stems beyond individual tragedies; it reflects systemic challenges affecting communities nationwide. There’s not only the responsibility for prevention but also the imperative for public health authorities to collaborate more closely with educational institutions and families. With the overdose toll rising, every factor, from availability of naloxone kits to community education, plays an integral role.
How society collectively chooses to respond to these alarming trends may dictate the course for countless lives. The time for decisive action is now, highlighting the responsibility of all stakeholders to engage and prevent future tragedies from occurring on their watch.