2023-08-29 22:37:46
On Tuesday, the BC government released its latest sad toll. At least 198 people lost their lives due to overdoses in the province in July, and since the beginning of the year, the crisis has claimed 1,455 people. Never had overdoses caused so many victims on such a date.
After 2021 and 2022, 2023 already appears to be the deadliest year. After 7 years of a state of health emergency in a province plagued by crisis, helplessness and impatience accompany sadness.
I don’t know how the government can take that. people keep dying
declares Helen Jensmember of Moms Stop the Harma network that brings together families of overdose victims.
it’s been like this for years”,”text”:”There’s also anger, because it’s been like this for 7 years”}}”>There is also anger, because it’s been like this for 7 years
says Marion Roig, manager of health and social services at the Francophone community organization La Boussole, which works with people in precarious situations in Vancouver.
Consumption is also a symptom of a malaise, a way of treating oneself.
Behind, there are many people who have difficulty meeting their basic needs, difficulty finding housing for example, or even accessing health care,
she says.
British Columbia and the Yukon are the regions with the highest overdose death rates, according to federal government data, but the crisis is crossing the country and deepening in other major cities, such as Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal.
Fighting drug toxicity
Possession of small amounts of illegal drugs has been removed as a criminal offense in British Columbia since the end of January, as part of an early pilot project, but the issue of drug toxicity on the market is still relevant.
If we want to stop the deaths, there is one thing to do: guarantee addicts a supply of safe drugs and, currently, the political will at the national level is not there.
Month after month, the chief coroner of British Columbia, Lisa Lapointe, recalls the same elements. We are seeing record numbers due to drug toxicity. The black market continues to put lives at risk.
According to her, the safe supply of opioids program put in place during the pandemic in the province remains insufficient and, despite recommendations made to improve it, very few people currently have access to it.
Two days before International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, the Chief Coroner of British Columbia wants to increase the pressure on governments.people every day from an overdose in the province”,”text”:”We can no longer afford to lose 6 people every day from an overdose in the province”}}”>We can no longer afford to lose 6 people every day from an overdose in the provinceshe concludes.
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