Overdose deaths were increasing in March before people could even apply for CERB payments. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes has reported that border closures are disrupting illegal drug supplies, leading to a more dangerous and volatile market.
Toxiciology data from the BC Coroner's office during COVID-19 shows that people are dying with higher than average fentanyl concentrations in their bloodstream.
Drug checking data from Toronto and Vancouver also shows more dangerous substances are circulating.
At the onset of the pandemic, the number of people accessing SCS dropped significantly and has not rebounded to pre-COVID levels
Can't rule out that CERB had an influence but highly unlikely it is the main driver, IMO. The provincial gov't is advancing this simplistic narrative at the expense of emergency action to connect people reliant on opioids to pharmaceutical alternatives to the illegal drugs.
*Crime, there is always a typo
Also worth noting that CERB wasn’t a huge bump in income for those accessing Alberta’s income support programs, as provincial benefits were clawed back. google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.…
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