FORSETH – Sympathetic rhetoric isn’t solving the drug overdose crisis

HOT ON THE HEELS of the latest tragic death statistics for those who have died tragically from drug overdoses, came a media release from Premier David Eby’s NDP government

The media release was headlined, “Record expansion of treatment options will support more people with addictions.” In it Premier Eby stated:

“People need to be able to access treatment and recovery services close to where they live, without worrying about how to pay for it. This expansion nearly doubles the number of publicly funded treatment and recovery beds that we committed to, so people get the care and treatment they need, no matter how many times it takes.”

This week British Columbians were shocked to see headlines like this one from Global News:

“More than 2,500 people died of toxic drugs in B.C. in 2023, driven by fentanyl.”

And the comments of B.C.’s soon to be retiring Chief Medical Coroner Lisa LaPointe, who observed, “More people than ever are dying — nearly seven people every day in 2023. Each day, coroners across B.C. go into communities and retrieve the bodies of the dead.”

Consecutive provincial governments in B.C. have called the situation epidemic, but I will ask once again …

WHY do we keep seeing the same words spoken by government month after month – year after year – including ones like these?

Our hearts are heavy … each of these lives was precious and important … their loss is felt deeply by us all … and more of the same

In November 2023 the B.C. government announced that at least 2,039 lives had been lost to unregulated drugs in the first 10 months of 2023.

With this month’s announcement of 2,511 deaths (2023) attributed to a poisoned and toxic drug supply, that means there were a further FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-TWO deaths alone in the last two month of the year — nearly eight (7.74) every single day.

Here’s what a random review shows us for the past year, and what the government had to say about them:

November 2023 … 189 deaths announced: “We hold close the memory of those we have lost as we continue to build and improve the systems of support in our province.”

September 2023 … 175 deaths announced: “We remain firm in our commitment to end this public-health emergency.”

July 2023 … 184 deaths announced: “We know there is more to do, and we won’t stop working until we end this crisis.”

May 2023 … 176 deaths announced, “My heart goes out to everyone who is grieving … We won’t stop working …’

Speaking to the latest death toll on Wednesday, LaPointe was quick to say, ‘people are dying from a volatile, poisoned supply of illicit drugs and not as a result of decriminalization, safer supply or any other harm reduction measures.”

And from the government we heard:

“Our actions are making a meaningful difference and are saving lives. For example, a recent study found that B.C.’s prescribed alternatives to street drugs program reduces the risk of death by as much as 91% in people with opioid-use disorder.”

While I am certainly no expert, I am going to disagree with both the provincial government, and Lisa Lapointe. What do the facts tell us about all of the services that government is providing to help reduce deaths? There were:

1,716 deaths in 2020 …

2,224 deaths in 2021 …

2,300 deaths in 2022 … and

2,511 deaths in 2023

The death toll has increased by 46 percent in the past four years. Given that figure, how can they possibly say there interventions have seen a 91% reduction in the chance of death for individuals?

While it is admirable the government is continuing to increase the number of addiction recovery beds, there are still not enough.  Knowing this, why is the government not simply creating the beds which ARE needed? What are they waiting for? Another 2,500+ deaths?

Additionally, it is well know that for a real chance at a successful drug-free life, those accessing addiction recovery services need more than beds.

A successful program is going to include on-going counselling services … education upgrades including skills to be able to get and hold down a job – especially trades training … and a place to live that is well away from known drug supply areas.

Niki Sharma, B.C.’s Attorney General, also needs to call upon her provincial counterparts, along with the federal Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, to map out ways to ensure that the scum creating this poisoned drug supply go to court facing every possible charge they can be hit with – and NO MORE pleading down to lesser charges, or consecutive sentences.

These blood sucking bottom feeders are living lavish lifestyles on the blood and suffering of our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends and co-workers. They should be put away for life – but when was the last time you heard that happen?

According to the Public Prosecution service of Canada, they can get away with a little as two years for the production of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc.

And the reality is that minimum, no consequence, sentences are more likely to be handed out.

Let me ask … where is the strongest possible charge – MURDER?  After all, in knowingly creating a poisoned drug supply, they are indeed committing murder.

IF our government is serious about their commitment to end this public-health emergency, then that commitment is going to have to come with serious life-changing consequences for those preying on those made vulnerable due to drug addiction.

I’ll ask … Are those we have elected to govern, and protect, finally ready to do what needs – no must – be done? Or come next January (2025) will we once again read and hear:

“Today, as we reflect on the year behind us, our hearts are heavy with the loss of 2,511 people in British Columbia to toxic drugs. Each of these lives was precious and important, each with their own story, their own dreams and people who love them. They were part of our community, and their loss is felt deeply by us all.”

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth.

Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident. For 40 years he has been active, in a number of capacities, in local, provincial and federal politics, including running as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election. He was involved in the BC Liberal leadership campaign and is now a member of the BC Conservative Party.