Health officials in Canada are warning World Cup visitors about the risks of the country’s toxic illegal drug supply.
The warning applies to both Canadian cities hosting World Cup matches: Vancouver and Toronto.
Officials say the unregulated drug supply in these cities may be very different from what some visitors are used to in their home countries. They are warning that even a small amount of an illegal substance could contain fentanyl or other dangerous contaminants.
Vancouver organizers have released a “know before you go” guide before the city hosts seven World Cup matches. The guide warns visitors that B.C.’s unregulated drug supply is unpredictable and may be more dangerous than drug supplies in other countries or regions.
British Columbia has recorded more than 16,000 deaths since a public health emergency was declared in 2016.
The BC Centre for Disease Control also published a risk assessment for the World Cup matches. It described harms linked to substance use, including toxic drug overdoses and alcohol consumption, as a “moderate risk.”
Toronto Public Health has issued a similar warning. Spokesperson Dane Griffiths said Toronto’s unregulated drug supply is “extremely toxic and unpredictable” and could be different from what tourists are used to.
He said Toronto Public Health is working with the city and other groups to support public health during the World Cup. The agency is monitoring substance use trends and supporting harm reduction services.
People who use substances in Vancouver and Toronto are being urged to take safety steps. Officials advise people to start with a low dose, go slowly, use drug-checking services, carry naloxone, and call 911 if someone overdoses.
Toronto Public Health also reminded people that Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people who call for help during an overdose. People seeking help for themselves or someone else will not be charged for possessing or using drugs, and neither will others at the scene.
Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer at Vancouver Coastal Health, said his team will use social media to warn visitors about the risks.
He said people arriving from Europe and other places may not be familiar with the toxic drug crisis in British Columbia.
However, Lysyshyn said B.C. residents remain the group most at risk. He noted that it is not common for travellers to British Columbia to die from overdoses.
Health officials are also concerned about alcohol use during the World Cup. Lysyshyn said major football events are often linked with heavy alcohol use, which can lead to violence in crowds and other safety problems.
Sarah Blyth, executive director of the Overdose Prevention Society in Vancouver, said visitors should understand that dangerous drug contamination can vary between cities, provinces, and countries.
She warned that people can die after taking a pill if it contains deadly substances.
Blyth said education and awareness are important during major events. Her organization is prepared to help people who want their drugs tested for dangerous contaminants.
Tara Gomes, an epidemiologist with the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, said Toronto’s drug supply is largely dominated by fentanyl. She added that other substances, including veterinary tranquilizers, are increasingly appearing.
Gomes said she is worried about people in Toronto who already use drugs. She said the timing of the World Cup could create more pressure on harm reduction services in the city.
The first of six World Cup matches in Toronto begins on June 12. Gomes noted that this comes one day before the province stops funding eight remaining publicly funded supervised consumption sites.
She said the timing could put people who use drugs at greater risk, especially as World Cup celebrations bring large crowds into the city.
Gomes said the World Cup puts Toronto on an international stage, and she believes more safety support should be in place for people during that time.
