B.C. Doctors Urged to Address Substance Use in Chronic Disease Patients as Stimulant Deaths Surge

Recent research reveals alarming findings: individuals suffering from chronic diseases are at an increased risk of dying from stimulant drug poisoning, surpassing the risks associated with opioids. This pivotal information was presented by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) on December 6, advocating for healthcare professionals to engage in discussions about substance use with their chronic disease patients.

A study published in BioMed Central Medicine, which involved experts, physicians, and individuals with firsthand experience of addiction, underscores this urgent need. Dr. Jatinder Baldwin, B.C.'s chief coroner, emphasized a startling trend: “In 2023, stimulant-related deaths accounted for 76 percent of all drug poisoning fatalities,” indicating a growing crisis that healthcare providers cannot afford to overlook.

Specific chronic conditions heighten this risk. The research shows that individuals diagnosed with heart failure or ischemic heart disease are nearly twice as likely to die from stimulant toxicity compared to opioid toxicity. Stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, also known on the streets as crack, coke, and meth, can induce a heightened state of alertness and energy, which may lead to dangerous health complications.

Dr. Heather Palis, the study's lead author, stated, "There is a significant opportunity for health services to provide support to those at high risk of overdose." Alarmingly, the research found that approximately one in three individuals who succumbed to drug toxicity had interacted with health professionals focused on chronic care in the month leading up to their death.

Between January 2015 and December 2019, the BC Coroners Service reported a staggering 3,788 fatalities attributed to drug toxicity. The study honed in on the causes of these deaths, clarifying the role of both stimulants and opioids in this crisis.

Emergency room physician Dr. Frank Scheuermeyer remarked, “Patients using stimulants tend to present with more cardiovascular challenges, highlighting the necessity for healthcare providers to screen for these underlying conditions.” Strikingly, during the analyzed period, 60 percent of those who died from illicit drug use had both opioids and stimulants listed as relevant to their deaths, while 11 percent involved stimulants exclusively.

Beth Haywood, a member of a provincial peer advisory group made up of individuals with experience in substance use, shared a crucial message about the stigma surrounding drug use. “People often hesitate to disclose their substance use to healthcare providers due to fear,” she said, emphasizing that primary care settings can serve as safe spaces to initiate these critical conversations.

The call for more research into the relationships between chronic diseases and stimulant use is echoed by the study's co-authors, who hope to shed further light on this pressing issue.

As of September 2024, B.C. has recorded a staggering total of 15,602 deaths due to unregulated drug poisoning since 2016, making illicit drug toxicity the leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 59 in the province. This ongoing epidemic demands urgent attention and action from medical professionals and policymakers alike.

Are we ready to confront the substance use crisis and save lives? Now is the time for healthcare professionals to step up.