On Friday, one day ahead of the annual International Overdose Prevention Day, the BC Coroners Service released the latest numbers for deaths from the toxic supply of illicit drugs.
The most recent figures are for July, when 192 people in the province fatally overdosed.
The coroners service says that figure is lower than July of 2023, but still averages out to six people dying each day during the month.
Unregulated toxic drugs cause more loss of life in British Columbia than homicides, motor-vehicle incidents, suicides and natural disease combined.
“To the loved ones of the approximate 15,140 British Columbians who have lost their lives to drug toxicity since this public-health emergency was declared in 2016, I extend my deepest condolences,” said Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, chief coroner. “These losses impact people far beyond our province, and we must not forget these are sons and daughters, parents and grandparents, co-workers and teammates.”
Leslie Bain of ‘Moms Stop the Harm,’ is one of those parents, and says International Overdose Prevention Day is a time to talk about how to change things as we remember those who have been lost.
She says raising awareness of the need for a clean supply is an important part of the discussions.
“Things could be different if all levels of government could integrate into their programs that people who use drugs will not die, like they are now, if there is a chance for them to get a safer, regulated, legal supply of the drugs they need.”
As a provincial election approaches, McBain says it’s distressing to see how a health matter is becoming a political issue and warns that backing away from things like harm reduction will only result in more deaths.
She says addiction is a very powerful disease when it takes hold and many substance abusers relapse several times during treatment.
McBain says what will help is providing users with a safer supply and safe consumptions sites so they don’t die before they can get whatever therapy or treatment they need.
