2023 is predicted to be the deadliest year yet in the opioid crisis, despite some ground-breaking tactics to try and stop thousands of overdoses in B.C.
Decriminalization started early in the year. As of Jan. 31, police stopped arresting people or seizing the drugs of adults with up to 2.5 grams of heroin, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA or fentanyl.
The move came after years of calls by advocates and experts – including chief coroner Lisa Lapointe – to decriminalize personal possession of drugs to reduce stigma and the number of people using alone. It will be a three-year exemption.
About 13,000 people have died from toxic drugs in B.C. since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016.
In March, a black balloon walk was held in Maple Ridge, as the Community Action Team walked with 36 black balloons – each one representing a life lost to overdose in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows in 2022.
Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge MP Marc Dalton was critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the government allowing the changes in law for decriminalization. He said allowing easier access to hard drugs would not help, and said law enforcement officials say they don’t often prosecute for possession of small amounts of narcotics.
“There haven’t been convictions for a long time,” said Dalton. “We’re doubling down on policies, that I’m sad to say will make things worse.”
The B.C. government promotes decriminalization as a crucial step in reducing stigma associated with substance abuse.
B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson told Black Press in an interview that the dangers of drug use and the importance of mental health care make up important messages given in schools.
“We are certainly not saying that drugs are safe to use. But we are saying if you are in trouble with addiction, we want you to reach out to the healthcare system, and that you do not belong in the criminal justice system unless you’re a drug dealer,” Malcolmson said.
In May, Maple Ridge Councillor Ahmed Yousef, concerned about open drug use, asked his fellow city councillors to ban illicit drug use in all city parks and outdoor gathering places.
“When children and seniors are out accessing our parks, they should not be encountering needles and glass pipes,” he said.
He lost that issue by 6-1 vote at council, as his fellow councillors said the city already had a bylaw that covered the issue.
READ ALSO: Maple Ridge council shoots down ban on shooting up in parks
In July, Pitt Meadows council moved to stop illicit drug use in parks, facilities, trails and dikes with bylaw updates.
READ ALSO: Pitt Meadows will ban open drug use in parks and other public spaces
However, the provincial government beat them to it. Effective Sept. 18, the province made it illegal to possess illicit drugs near playgrounds and other places children gather, excluding these areas for the drug decriminalization trial.
The overdose crisis is getting worse, and BC’s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said this December that overdose deaths are expected to hit record levels in 2023.
“We know that last year we had almost 2,400 deaths and this year we are likely to see it even higher,” she said. “This year is looking to be the worst year ever in terms of lives lost to drug toxicity.”
As she retires, after 13 years on the job, Lapointe said she feared politics is creeping into policies concerning public health.
READ ALSO: Anger over unresolved toxic drug crisis as B.C. chief coroner exits