Ten years into the toxic drug crisis B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth urges more focus on young people

Press Release

April 21, 2026

Victoria – A decade after a public health emergency was declared by the Provincial Health Officer, young people in BC continue to be deeply impacted by the toxic drug crisis in ways that are not widely recognized, says Representative for Children and Youth Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth.

According to the BC Coroner, unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death among young people. Since the state of emergency was declared, 232 young people, aged 0 to 18, have died – 73 percent of them died at home, 66 percent died while in government care or receiving government services, and 67 percent had a mental health condition.

“For each of these numbers, there is a child who had a name, people who loved them, interests and aspirations and a full life yet to live.  Their deaths were tragic, preventable and have altered the course of their families, communities and Nations. However, while the focus on the deaths of young people due to toxic drug poisoning is undeniably important, the harms are so much more extensive,” said Charlesworth.

Charlesworth notes that young people are experiencing anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries following non-fatal drug poisonings and they are often being exploited and assaulted when seeking or using illicit substances. In addition, children and youth across all ages are experiencing unimaginable loss, grief and trauma as their parents, caregivers, siblings, friends and other loved ones are dying from drug poisonings. “Young people’s lives are being shattered, often very abruptly, and the unique services that are desperately needed to support them as they experience profound trauma after a loss just aren’t there in the way we need them to be,” said Charlesworth.

Since her 2018 report, Time to Listen – Youth Voices on Substance Use, Charlesworth has been calling for integrated, specialized services to support the unique needs of young people in the midst of the toxic drug crisis. While new resources have been established, such as community-based Foundry centres and integrated child and youth teams in some school districts, BC still does not have a comprehensive plan to address the crisis for young people, and access to services and supports is very limited in many areas of the province.

“Since I first addressed this critical issue in 2018, sadly, there has been an explosion of misinformation, blaming, stigma and discrimination. Rather than listening to young people, understanding the underlying issues and following the good evidence we have about what helps, I see shortsighted reaction rather than informed and effective action, grounded in compassion. This is on all of us,” said Charlesworth. “We have to kick judgment, stigma and shame to the curb and ask ourselves, how can we best support young people to survive, heal and ultimately thrive?”

The Representative stresses that fear, stigma and shame often keep young people silent when they need help most. She says her Office often sees substance use becoming a coping mechanism in the face of unaddressed trauma. Substance use is often linked to mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, violence and exploitation, systemic racism, and structural poverty. Charlesworth also notes that some young people are simply experimenting, like every generation before them has, but in today’s world this comes with significant risk given the toxicity and unpredictability of the drug supply.

“Young people are dealing with a very, very different landscape than any of us adults likely would have imagined when we were teens,” said Charlesworth. “This is an extremely difficult issue and there are no quick fixes. Manufacturers, dealers, exploiters and organized crime are extremely innovative, and we must be also. This will require courage, a willingness to set aside politics and rhetoric, to pay attention to the evidence, to take action and learn and improve as we go. Above all, our young people need to experience our love, compassion and respect – especially when they are struggling.”

Connect:

• First Nations Health Authority’s With Open Arms: A Toolkit for Supportive Conversations about Substance Use. This resource is designed to help adults, caregivers, and professionals engage in open, compassionate conversations with young people. It emphasizes reducing stigma, listening without judgment, and supporting youth in ways that build safety and trust.
• Mom’s Stop the Harm. Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths. They “advocate for the change of failed drug policies, provide peer support to grieving families, and assist those with loved ones who use or have used substances.”

Media Contact:
Tracey Eyles
Phone: 250-561-4633

IHT4