Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Deaths due to toxic illegal drugs in March and April represent well over half of all BC losses so far this year



The BC Coroners Service has published updated reports on illicit drug toxicity deaths and fentanyl-detected drug deaths to the end of April 2020. The reports show an average of 3.2 illicit drug toxicity deaths per day in the first four months of this year.  Deaths due to toxic illegal drugs in March and April (229) represent over half (59.9%) of all losses (382) so far this year.

 

With today’s news BC Liberal Mental Health and Addictions Critic Jane Thornthwaite is expressing deep concern about the rising number of overdose deaths in BC.

"The impacts of COVID-19 continue to be felt across communities throughout British Columbia as this marks the second straight month of overdose death increases since the start of the pandemic," said Thornthwaite.

 

"While it is important to note that the number of people overdosing has been increasing over the past few years, COVID-19 has meant more people are using alone and without the same level of support around them, which has resulted in fewer people reaching lifesaving services such as naloxone."

The BC Coroners report found that April 2020 was the deadliest month for illicit drug overdoses in over thirteen months. Additionally, the recorded overdose deaths in April showed a four per cent increase over the number of deaths compared to the previous month.

“We remain in a public health emergency, with more than three British Columbians dying each day from illicit drug toxicity deaths,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

 

“Illicit drug toxicity death rates in BC are still the highest for any jurisdiction in Canada. Every region in BC has been impacted. Recent efforts to improve access to safe supply in B.C. are encouraging, and the BC Coroners Service supports continued enhancement of this critical life-saving measure”.

 

Continuing, Lapointe remarked, “We continue to recommend a regulated, evidence-based, supportive treatment and recovery system as an important pillar in preventing future deaths”.


However, according to Thornthwaite, “Harm reduction approaches such as overdose prevention sites and greater distribution of naloxone kits are saving lives but, with overdose rates higher than ever, they alone are not enough to break the cycle of addiction.”

 

The Liberals Mental Health and Addictions critic continued her comments stating;

 

“Ultimately government needs to focus on filling the gaps in the system for those seeking treatment and recovery options, so that we can once and for all end the cycle of addiction. COVID-19 has only reaffirmed the urgent need for a seamless continuum of care."

The illicit drug toxicity death totals for March (112) and April (117), mark the first time BC has recorded over 100 illicit drug toxicity deaths in back-to-back months since November and December 2018.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more