Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe used her last public appearance to call for 91裸聊视频渃ourageous91裸聊视频� changes in B.C.91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e can take measures to save lives, or we can continue to count the dead,91裸聊视频� Lapointe said in lamenting the lack of a broader plan and data around which to base such a plan. 91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 become complacent with drug toxicity as the leading cause of death for a significant portion of our population.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚 think there is some fear among politicians to be seen as doing something radical,91裸聊视频� she said, when asked why this idea of expanding safe supply continues to face resistance. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not radical. We have always treated medical health issues with a medical response or a common sense approach,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频�(Our) politicians need to be courageous. They need to push back against the narrative that we are providing drugs.91裸聊视频�
Lapointe91裸聊视频檚 criticism of government comes not only on her last public appearance, but also just days before the one-year-anniversary of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 limited decriminalization trial. The trial 91裸聊视频� which exempts from criminal penalties possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal until Jan. 30, 2026 91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频�(There) is no evidence to suggest that the general public is at risk from people, from public drug use,91裸聊视频� she said.
She also disagreed with claims that decriminalization has contributed to the rising death numbers. 91裸聊视频淚llicit fentanyl is responsible for these deaths,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭he goal of decriminalization didn91裸聊视频檛 mean that more drugs were available.91裸聊视频�
But Lapointe criticized the government for launching decriminalization without the supports in the place. 91裸聊视频淭he treatment and recovery services are not there,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭here are no standards for treatment and recovery. This is not a B.C. issue. This is common across the country.91裸聊视频�
Reaction to the new numbers has been swift.
Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside acknowledged them Monday afternoon. 91裸聊视频淓ach of these lives was precious and important, each with their own story, their own dreams and people who love them,91裸聊视频� Whiteside said. 91裸聊视频淭hey were part of our community and their loss is felt deeply by us all.91裸聊视频�
She reiterated her government91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渦nwavering91裸聊视频� commitment to ending this crisis. 91裸聊视频淥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,91裸聊视频� Whiteside said. 91裸聊视频淥ur goal is to ensure that accessible, effective care is there for everyone, right when they need it.91裸聊视频�
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Whiteside also said that her government91裸聊视频檚 actions have made 91裸聊视频渁 meaningful difference91裸聊视频� in saving lives. When asked about Lapointe91裸聊视频檚 criticism, Whiteside said her government will continue to support efforts to go after 91裸聊视频減redatory91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频檚 safe supply program. She said government will review those findings 91裸聊视频渋n order to scale up the model that we have,91裸聊视频� adding 91裸聊视频渋t is critical that we keep people connected to health care.91裸聊视频�
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon said Lapointe91裸聊视频檚 report represents a 91裸聊视频渄amning indictment of the NDP government91裸聊视频檚 disastrous decriminalization policy,91裸聊视频� which 91裸聊视频渉as recklessly endangered lives.91裸聊视频�
Elenore Sturko, BC United91裸聊视频檚 shadow minister for mental health, addiction and recovery, said when Premier David Eby assumed office, he pledged to be judged on results.91裸聊视频淲ell, the results are in, and they are nothing short of disastrous,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t has never been a deadlier time to be a vulnerable person using drugs in B.C. than right now, under the NDP91裸聊视频檚 watch.91裸聊视频�
Sturko, who has been critical of efforts to expand safe supply, also used the occasion to tout her party91裸聊视频檚 treatment and recovery based plan in calling for a change in direction.
Whiteside criticized Falcon91裸聊视频檚 comments about decriminalization as harmful but also reiterated her government91裸聊视频檚 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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