The Yukon is now fighting two official health crises.

Following four drug-related deaths in the first week of January, and more deaths in the past week, including two women at the local shelter for the homeless on Tuesday, Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee has declared a substance use health emergency.

The declaration doesn’t give the government extra powers, McPhee explained. That’s unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, which taps into the Civil Emergencies Measures Act (CEMA).

It’s more of a symbolic gesture indicating the government has recognized the severity of the opioid and drug crisis, promising renewed efforts to solving it.

A lengthy briefing Thursday morning involved McPhee, chief coroner Heather Jones, the acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Catherine Elliott, and RCMP Chief Supt. Scott Sheppard.

They spent more than 90 minutes outlining an action plan that draws liberally from other jurisdictions, particularly British Columbia, where a similar state of emergency has been in effect for six years.

The action plan also starts from a basic philosophical position that says people are going to do drugs.

“It’s a response for people who are already addicted,” McPhee said in response to a reporter’s question.

She said the government “is working closely with partners to advance a range of harm reduction initiatives in response to the emergency.”

“This coordinated response is new,” she added.

A number of initiatives will be underway, including:

• a new territory-wide public awareness and education campaign addressing the toxic drug supply present in Yukon communities;

• expanding drug testing and safe supply to rural communities and increasing availability in Whitehorse;

• enhancing the government’s supervised consumption site to support those who use inhalants;

• increasing on-the-land treatment options in the territory;

• working with the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre to extend the hours of operation of the outreach van, which provides mobile fentanyl testing and enhanced supports to marginalized individuals; and

• developing a new Opioid Action Plan to build on the success of the territory’s first Action Plan in 2018.

“This declaration is a commitment to action by our government, and a call to action to all Yukoners,” the minister said.

“It is time to rally around our communities, our friends, our neighbours and family members who need our support. We need to address our territory’s substance use health emergency and make our communities more safe and healthy.

“Substance use is killing people and creating mental health crises in each and every Yukon community,” McPhee addd. “It’s an important but sombre occasion.

“We are all completely devastated. “We’ve come together to take action. We must do more.”

McPhee stressed the problem – often called the opioid crisis – isn’t just about opioids. There have been cases where Yukoners have died from other drugs, particularly cocaine laced with fentanyl.

“This is going to require a collaborative community approach. Safety is paramount right now. It’s not a time to shame people.”

Elliott said “the loss of life is staggering, and it’s a signal of an underlying problem. The toll is profound.

“The rapid increase in opioid-related deaths signals a significant health problem that requires immediate focused attention,” she said.

“The Yukon’s illicit drug supply is contaminated and that is contributing to a significant increase of accidental overdose, injury, illness and death,” Elliott added.

“As acting CMOH, I am committed to focusing our resources, enhancing our partnerships across Yukon and addressing this complex health issue.

“By coming together, I am confident that we will be able to address the immediate crisis and work to improve the underlying factors that contribute to illicit drug related harms.”

She said fatalities amongst drug users have rocketed 419 per cent since 2019, when the crisis was in its nascent stages.

In April 2016, the first fatalities due to opioids began to be noticed, Elliott said. Since that time, there have been 64 opioid deaths, and 12 more other drug-related overdoses.

There were 23 deaths in 2021, with three still under investigation.

“All of these were preventable,” she said. “It’s unacceptable.”

Locally, Sheppard said, the issue isn’t still a criminal one, and can’t be fought that way.

“It’s not about putting bodies in jail,” he said. “But enforcement remains an important tool. We need a measured and balanced approach.”

Sheppard said he believes police have had some success in keeping drugs out of the Yukon, despite the current contaminated supply and the fatalities.

He refused to blame the situation on a lack of staffing and resources.

He said the detachments in the Yukon could use more staff, something he has been talking about for several years, but it’s not preventing his officers from doing their jobs.

Sheppard also said his staff have targeted drug dealers for years – with some success.

“We have been doing so. It’s part of the solution, but it’s not the whole solution.

“Some of these people affected have fallen victim rather unwittingly. We want to make sure the people who need help are getting help.”

He warned that continued enforcement is necessary to prevent drug wars flaring into the open publicly here in the Yukon, and especially Whitehorse. He suggested a reduction in enforcement could lead to more gun violence as drug suppliers fought for dominance.

Jones confirmed four deaths due to illicit drugs in the first seven days of January.

“Three of these deaths are the result of fentanyl. Further, the Yukon Coroner’s Service is investigating three more deaths occurring between January 15 and 19 that are suspected to be drug-related,” Jone said.

Toxicology results related to these three additional deaths are pending.

“The extremely high number of drug-related deaths in the past several months is a catastrophic reminder of the dangers around illicit drug use in the Yukon,” said Jones.

“The presence of toxic street drugs is a public health and safety concern throughout the territory.”