VICTORIA, B.C. – The BC Green Caucus has issued a statement following the recent BC Coroner’s report on deaths due to overdose:
“It’s been over ten years since the toxic drug crisis was declared and communities across this province are reeling from the unimaginable loss. When reports such as this come out, the public may see numbers—but behind each number is a person. With every life lost is a community grieving, and our hearts are with them.” said Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
The report released today by BC’s Coroners Service today shows that 109 people lost their lives in May of this year due to toxic drugs, the lowest number since February 2020.
“This is welcome news, but number of deaths cannot be the only metric we use to respond to the toxic drug crisis. Non-fatal overdoses are a sign that naloxone and other life-saving measures are working. But, the complexity of the toxic drug supply places an enormous strain on peoples’ lives, and on our health-care system.” said Valeriote.
Changes in how people consume drugs, expanded overdose prevention services, take-home naloxone, drug checking, prescribed alternatives to the toxic street supply, and the tireless work of frontline health-care workers, are among some of the reasons the BC Coroner is reporting fewer deaths.
Valeriote adds that, “The Province needs to invest so that overdoses also trend downwards. This includes improving the quality of available data, and ensuring our health-care system can adapt quickly as drug use patterns and the toxic supply continue to change.”
Experts warn that toxic drug deaths fluctuate as the illicit drug supply changes. Increasingly, non-opioid sedatives like medetomidine and xylazine are being found alongside benzodiazepines, causing complex overdoses and prolonged sedation. Naloxone remains critical, but these sedatives make overdoses harder to respond to.
“Nurses and other frontline workers—many of whom are currently on strike due to the strains on our healthcare system—remain at the centre of this response,” said BC Greens Leader Emily Lowan. “Our government needs to support these essential workers for the sake of their livelihood, and for the sake of the people affected by the toxic drug crisis.”
Any death from the toxic drug supply is a policy choice, and the BC Greens are calling for urgent, coordinated action, including:
- A regulated alternative to the toxic drug supply.
- Accessible, low-barrier supervised consumption services that respond to people’s needs.
- Timely, evidence-based, and culturally safe treatment for anyone who seeks it.
- Safe, affordable, and accessible housing.
“The toxic drug crisis is one of the greatest public health emergencies in British Columbia’s history,” added Lowan. “We owe it to British Columbians who are embattled with addiction or have lost loved ones to toxic drugs to stay focused and follow the evidence of what will work to help. The BC Greens will always call for that action.”
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Media Contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1 (250) 882 6187 | Ryan.Hook@leg.bc.ca