Vuntut Gwitchin chief says community in 'dire situation' with substance use crisis

Pauline Frost, chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in the Yukon, says her community is no different from many others in the territory right now as it grapples with a substance use crisis. 

'We're in a dire situation, like most Yukon communities," Frost said.

"We've seen a significant rise of opioids in our community. We've had a few opioid deaths associated with toxic drugs — not in community, but with citizens of our community."

Last week, the First Nation became the latest in the territory to make an emergency declaration. It's intended to recognize the substance use crisis in Old Crow and among members outside the community, to make a call for action, and to mobilize resources to respond to the crisis.

"In that statement we defined some protocols," Frost said. "And that is to look at prevention, education, harm reduction. Looking also at treatment and recovery support. We truly need to look at expanding the scope of care for addicts."

Frost said ultimately, her First Nation wants to remove illicit drugs from the community.

"We're asking for help," she told CBC News. "We are fortunate in that we haven't had an opioid death in our community yet, and we're absolutely doing everything that we can to ensure that never happens. But that is never guaranteed either."

The First Nation's emergency declaration came on the same day that Yukon's chief coroner announced that four people from three different communities had died within a span of four days last week. The coroner all were believed to be related to substance use.

Bronte Renwick-Shields, executive director of Blood Ties Four Directions, said her organization supports the Vuntut Gwitchin declaration. Blood Ties Four Directions helps Whitehorse's most vulnerable by creating opportunities for people to have equal access to health and wellness.

"We recognize that this is an emergency and that we are losing too many Yukoners," said Renwick-Shields.

Blood Ties Four Directions offers drug testing through its outreach van and a supervised consumption site in Whitehorse. It also provides education and prevention support in the communities but doesn't have direct service delivery outside of Whitehorse. 

Renwick-Shields agrees with Frost that more supports and resources are needed to really make a dent in the territory's substance use crisis.

"I think there are a few key things that we're missing in terms of our response," she told CBC News. "One of which being a comprehensive, accessible safe supply program.

"If you went into the liquor store and bought a case of beer and instead you were given Everclear, that would change your experience with that substance and could cause you harm. And that's currently what people who are using drugs that they are purchasing at a street level are experiencing right now — and there isn't an alternative of providing them with a safe supply."