Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe used her last public appearance to call for 香蕉视频直播渃ourageous香蕉视频直播� changes in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e can take measures to save lives, or we can continue to count the dead,香蕉视频直播� Lapointe said in lamenting the lack of a broader plan and data around which to base such a plan. 香蕉视频直播淲e can香蕉视频直播檛 become complacent with drug toxicity as the leading cause of death for a significant portion of our population.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think there is some fear among politicians to be seen as doing something radical,香蕉视频直播� she said, when asked why this idea of expanding safe supply continues to face resistance. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not radical. We have always treated medical health issues with a medical response or a common sense approach,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播�(Our) politicians need to be courageous. They need to push back against the narrative that we are providing drugs.香蕉视频直播�
Lapointe香蕉视频直播檚 criticism of government comes not only on her last public appearance, but also just days before the one-year-anniversary of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 limited decriminalization trial. The trial 香蕉视频直播� which exempts from criminal penalties possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal until Jan. 30, 2026 香蕉视频直播� 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. 香蕉视频直播�(There) is no evidence to suggest that the general public is at risk from people, from public drug use,香蕉视频直播� she said.
She also disagreed with claims that decriminalization has contributed to the rising death numbers. 香蕉视频直播淚llicit fentanyl is responsible for these deaths,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭he goal of decriminalization didn香蕉视频直播檛 mean that more drugs were available.香蕉视频直播�
But Lapointe criticized the government for launching decriminalization without the supports in the place. 香蕉视频直播淭he treatment and recovery services are not there,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are no standards for treatment and recovery. This is not a B.C. issue. This is common across the country.香蕉视频直播�
Reaction to the new numbers has been swift.
Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside acknowledged them Monday afternoon. 香蕉视频直播淓ach of these lives was precious and important, each with their own story, their own dreams and people who love them,香蕉视频直播� Whiteside said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey were part of our community and their loss is felt deeply by us all.香蕉视频直播�
She reiterated her government香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渦nwavering香蕉视频直播� commitment to ending this crisis. 香蕉视频直播淥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,香蕉视频直播� Whiteside said. 香蕉视频直播淥ur goal is to ensure that accessible, effective care is there for everyone, right when they need it.香蕉视频直播�
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Whiteside also said that her government香蕉视频直播檚 actions have made 香蕉视频直播渁 meaningful difference香蕉视频直播� in saving lives. When asked about Lapointe香蕉视频直播檚 criticism, Whiteside said her government will continue to support efforts to go after 香蕉视频直播減redatory香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播檚 safe supply program. She said government will review those findings 香蕉视频直播渋n order to scale up the model that we have,香蕉视频直播� adding 香蕉视频直播渋t is critical that we keep people connected to health care.香蕉视频直播�
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon said Lapointe香蕉视频直播檚 report represents a 香蕉视频直播渄amning indictment of the NDP government香蕉视频直播檚 disastrous decriminalization policy,香蕉视频直播� which 香蕉视频直播渉as recklessly endangered lives.香蕉视频直播�
Elenore Sturko, BC United香蕉视频直播檚 shadow minister for mental health, addiction and recovery, said when Premier David Eby assumed office, he pledged to be judged on results.香蕉视频直播淲ell, the results are in, and they are nothing short of disastrous,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t has never been a deadlier time to be a vulnerable person using drugs in B.C. than right now, under the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 watch.香蕉视频直播�
Sturko, who has been critical of efforts to expand safe supply, also used the occasion to tout her party香蕉视频直播檚 treatment and recovery based plan in calling for a change in direction.
Whiteside criticized Falcon香蕉视频直播檚 comments about decriminalization as harmful but also reiterated her government香蕉视频直播檚 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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