The Yukon Coroner’s Service is investigating four deaths that occurred between last Saturday and the past Tuesday in the territory, the service confirmed late Thursday afternoon.

All four deaths appear to be related to substance use. Two occurred in Whitehorse and two in Yukon communities.

NDP MLA Annie Blake had referenced three of the fatalities Monday in the legislature. They follow 25 drug-related deaths in the territory through 2022.

“These deaths, while unrelated to each other, may have been preventable,” the coroner’s service said of this month’s deaths 
in a statement.

“Communities continue to struggle with the grief and pain associated with the loss of life due to substance use.

“The rapid succession of so many deaths in a short amount of time across multiple communities highlights how widespread the challenges of substance use are in the Yukon.”

A death was reported in Watson Lake early last Saturday morning.

Later that morning, a death was reported in Haines Junction.

Another fatality was revealed last Sunday morning in Whitehorse.

On Tuesday evening, a second death was reported in the capital.

The deceased were both men and women, between 27 and 52 years old. Three were members of Yukon First Nations.

The investigations into the lost lives are pending toxicological analysis, and have included a full autopsy.

“The circumstances surrounding each of these deaths suggest that substance use was a contributing factor,” the coroner’s service said.

The Yukon government formally declared a substance use emergency across the territory in January 2022.

“No part of our society is unaffected by the substance use emergency and the toxic illicit drug supply,” the coroner’s service said.

“Alcohol and illicit drugs are still taking the lives of our loved ones while causing irreparable harm to our communities. We urge all Yukoners to remain aware of this and to take steps to address this with urgency.

“Every life is a valued part of our communities, and we are losing far too many to these preventable deaths.”

It continues to be increasingly important to ensure the availability of safe, confidential, and non-judgmental spaces and supports for those who use drugs, the coroner’s office added.

“The coroner’s service asks all Yukoners to demonstrate kindness and compassion for those who are struggling and those who are grieving the lives lost; these deaths continue to impact families and communities deeply.

“We are very appreciative of the support and work that the RCMP has provided to our investigations. Their assistance is invaluable to the work we do.

“Equally important is the dedication of Emergency Medical Services who often attend these deaths and provide important first responder support.”

Chief coroner Heather Jones said the coroner’s service is “growing increasingly concerned with the progression of the substance 
use crisis.

“The impact of the pain and grief of the families and friends of those who have lost their lives continues to be felt deeply.

“The heartbreak continues, and these are wounds that never fully heal for those who are left behind.

“We continue to offer our sincere condolences and support to the families and communities who have been severely impacted by these deaths,” Jones added.

The NDP’s Blake told the legislature Monday, “Over the weekend, Yukoners faced another wave of drug-poisoning deaths.

“Sadly, the government is not acting fast enough on making safer supply available to everyone across the Yukon.

“Right now, people in rural Yukon still don’t have access to safer supply of opioids from a medical professional, which is a proven way to reduce overdoses and save lives.

“We have asked this government countless times and so have Yukoners: when will safer supply be available in rural Yukon?” Blake asked.

Tracy-Anne McPhee, the minister of Health and Social Services, said the government “is committed to working with our partners to respond to the substance use health emergency, which includes increasing access to safer supply.

“Offering Yukoners an alternative to illegal and unregulated drug supply, known as ‘safer supply’, is just one action we are taking to respond to the substance use health emergency,” the minister said.

“We are working with experts to ensure that we can expand access to safer supply in the Yukon as safely and efficiently as possible. It is one of the topics that we had extensive conversations about a week or two ago; I guess it was about two weeks ago when minister Bennett was here.”

She was referring to Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

“It is one of the key priorities to provide safer substances that can be used by individuals who are trying to change their lives with respect to potential addictions to other types of drugs,” McPhee told the legislature.

“We are committed to working with our partners and all levels of government to increase the outreach services through nursing and social supports for all people who use illicit substances.”

Blake replied, “Harm reduction saves lives, and we have already seen this happening here in Whitehorse.

“In two months alone, the supervised consumption site responded to 24 overdoses and prevented deaths, but people living in rural communities don’t have access to these same life-saving services.

“We have had so many losses that we can’t afford to wait any longer,” the NDP MLA said.

“We, alongside thousands of Yukoners, are asking that this government do the right thing and make safer supply available in communities. Will the minister please tell Yukoners when safer supply will be available in their communities?

To further expand the scope of safer supply, McPhee said, the department is working with B.C. addictions medicine specialists to develop and provide clinical training and prescribing guidelines for physicians in the Yukon.

“We are improving access to safer supply as more personnel are hired to provide wraparound services to help ensure that clients accessing safer supply through the opioid treatment services have the supports that they require,” the minister said.

“Expanding safer supply into communities outside of Whitehorse will be one element of the upcoming substance use health emergency strategy.”

Work is progressing on the strategy, which was recently presented to the chiefs at the last Yukon Forum. The government is following up for feedback “at the highest level of their governments,” McPhee said.

“The expansion of safer supply is not limited to the safe supply of opioids,” she added.

“The department is also exploring options to provide safer supply of other illicit substances such as stimulants to help individuals.

“The process at this point requires access to pharmaceutical distribution and a prescription from medical professionals,” said McPhee.

“We have individuals who are being trained to provide that service and expand it through the Yukon.”