A shelter in Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, ran out of naloxone last week after the region experienced approximately 80 drug overdoses in a single day. Erin Kapela, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Cowichan Valley Branch, reported a surge in overdose cases at the Duncan shelter she oversees, beginning on the evening of November 18. "We've never experienced something quite like that," Kapela said. "It was really scary." The Warmland House Shelter in Duncan responded to the alarming rise in toxic drug poisonings. The Island Health Authority confirmed that there was a "dramatic increase" in overdoses that night. Kapela noted that the estimated 80 poisonings occurred between November 18 and 19. Fortunately, as of November 25, no fatalities had been reported. "There are some people who are in quite serious condition, but at this point there's been no fatalities, which is an absolute miracle," Kapela stated. She credited the quick actions of first responders, shelter staff, and community members for distributing naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. The demand was so high that the shelter ran out of its supply. "We had to put a call out the next day to replenish our stock because we had gone through so much, and also distributed so much to the community," Kapela explained. Island Health assisted in providing additional naloxone to the shelter, although it did not face a shortage itself. Kapela attributed the spike in overdoses to particularly dangerous drugs circulating in the area. "Whatever was in that particular supply was very, very toxic and dangerous," she said. In response to the crisis, Island Health issued a drug poisoning advisory, warning residents in Cowichan Valley about the heightened risks associated with using unregulated substances. As of September 30, British Columbia has recorded approximately 1,384 unregulated drug deaths this year. This figure represents a 31 percent decrease compared to two years ago, part of a broader trend of declining overdose deaths across North America. Nearly half of this year's deaths occurred in private homes, while 21 percent took place outdoors. Kapela emphasized the need for long-term solutions to prevent such incidents in the future. "We know what to do to keep people safe, and if we could get people housed and taken care of properly, then we could avoid situations like this quite well," she said.