Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe used her last public appearance to call for 含羞草研究社渃ourageous含羞草研究社� changes in B.C.含羞草研究社檚 response to the unregulated drug crisis, which claimed 2,511 people, a record-breaking number over the last decade of data.
Lisa Lapointe shared that figure Wednesday (Jan. 24) in accusing officials of ignoring evidence and falling back on the familiar but false and expensive solution of treating users of drugs as criminals and stigmatizing them.
含羞草研究社淲e can take measures to save lives, or we can continue to count the dead,含羞草研究社� Lapointe said in lamenting the lack of a broader plan and data around which to base such a plan. 含羞草研究社淲e can含羞草研究社檛 become complacent with drug toxicity as the leading cause of death for a significant portion of our population.含羞草研究社�
Lapointe paired her criticism and warning against complacency with familiar calls for the expansion of recovery and treatment services and more controversially, expanding access to safe supply beyond the existing limited model, an idea, which government has already rejected.
B.C. currently offers a limited amount of safe supply in limited locations. But Lapointe said the program in its current shape does not go far enough in noting that current treatment services are simply unable to address the scale of the emergency. Lapointe said it is coinciding with one million British Columbians without a family doctor and a housing crisis in alluding to government information bulletin that shows toxic drug linked to a 28-per-cent increase in homelessness deaths in 2022.
It is this backdrop that requires a new approach, she said.
含羞草研究社淚 think there is some fear among politicians to be seen as doing something radical,含羞草研究社� she said, when asked why this idea of expanding safe supply continues to face resistance. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not radical. We have always treated medical health issues with a medical response or a common sense approach,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社�(Our) politicians need to be courageous. They need to push back against the narrative that we are providing drugs.含羞草研究社�
Lapointe含羞草研究社檚 criticism of government comes not only on her last public appearance, but also just days before the one-year-anniversary of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 limited decriminalization trial. The trial 含羞草研究社� which exempts from criminal penalties possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal until Jan. 30, 2026 含羞草研究社� started Jan. 31, 2023.
The trial has faced criticism from several corners, including municipalities, who have blamed it for declining public safety. Lapointe pushed back against this claim. 含羞草研究社�(There) is no evidence to suggest that the general public is at risk from people, from public drug use,含羞草研究社� she said.
She also disagreed with claims that decriminalization has contributed to the rising death numbers. 含羞草研究社淚llicit fentanyl is responsible for these deaths,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭he goal of decriminalization didn含羞草研究社檛 mean that more drugs were available.含羞草研究社�
But Lapointe criticized the government for launching decriminalization without the supports in the place. 含羞草研究社淭he treatment and recovery services are not there,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭here are no standards for treatment and recovery. This is not a B.C. issue. This is common across the country.含羞草研究社�
Reaction to the new numbers has been swift.
Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside acknowledged them Monday afternoon. 含羞草研究社淓ach of these lives was precious and important, each with their own story, their own dreams and people who love them,含羞草研究社� Whiteside said. 含羞草研究社淭hey were part of our community and their loss is felt deeply by us all.含羞草研究社�
She reiterated her government含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渦nwavering含羞草研究社� commitment to ending this crisis. 含羞草研究社淥ur government is taking action to strengthen mental-health and addiction services across the spectrum of needs from early intervention and prevention, to housing, to treatment and recovery,含羞草研究社� Whiteside said. 含羞草研究社淥ur goal is to ensure that accessible, effective care is there for everyone, right when they need it.含羞草研究社�
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Whiteside also said that her government含羞草研究社檚 actions have made 含羞草研究社渁 meaningful difference含羞草研究社� in saving lives. When asked about Lapointe含羞草研究社檚 criticism, Whiteside said her government will continue to support efforts to go after 含羞草研究社減redatory含羞草研究社� drug dealers supplying increasingly volatile, harmful drugs.
Government continues to do everything in its power to keep people alive by separating users from toxic drugs and connecting them to the services they need, she said, pointing to efforts to expand various types of treatment services and other measures such expanding supervised consumption sites.
Whiteside also touted a recent study by the British Medical Journal that can be read as an endorsement of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 safe supply program. She said government will review those findings 含羞草研究社渋n order to scale up the model that we have,含羞草研究社� adding 含羞草研究社渋t is critical that we keep people connected to health care.含羞草研究社�
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon said Lapointe含羞草研究社檚 report represents a 含羞草研究社渄amning indictment of the NDP government含羞草研究社檚 disastrous decriminalization policy,含羞草研究社� which 含羞草研究社渉as recklessly endangered lives.含羞草研究社�
Elenore Sturko, BC United含羞草研究社檚 shadow minister for mental health, addiction and recovery, said when Premier David Eby assumed office, he pledged to be judged on results.含羞草研究社淲ell, the results are in, and they are nothing short of disastrous,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚t has never been a deadlier time to be a vulnerable person using drugs in B.C. than right now, under the NDP含羞草研究社檚 watch.含羞草研究社�
Sturko, who has been critical of efforts to expand safe supply, also used the occasion to tout her party含羞草研究社檚 treatment and recovery based plan in calling for a change in direction.
Whiteside criticized Falcon含羞草研究社檚 comments about decriminalization as harmful but also reiterated her government含羞草研究社檚 commitment to public safety following the passage of a law restricting public consumption of drugs. While government does not want arrest people using drugs, the public also has right to be safe, she said.
A court ruling recently stopped that law from coming into effect with the law remaining subject of a Charter challenge.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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