More than 2,500 people died of toxic drugs in B.C. in 2023, driven by fentanyl | Globalnews.ca
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Unless British Columbia meaningfully expands its safer supply model, it will continue to "count the dead" from toxic unregulated drugs, said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.

More than 2,500 people died from unregulated, toxic drugs in B.C. last year, with fentanyl continuing to be a major driver.

The powerful opioid has been detected in 86 per cent of deaths each year between 2017 and 2023, according to B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe, who provided an update on the public health emergency on Wednesday.

“Your child, brother, sister, mom dad friend or colleague did not deserve to die this way. Their death was preventable. Their loss — your loss — is our collective loss,” Lapointe said. “How many more families will join these statistics next year?”

Since the crisis was declared in April 2016, she said 13,794 lives have been lost. The province’s experts estimate some 225,000 British Columbians are currently accessing the drugs through the illicit market, Lapointe added.

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  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    10 months ago

    But then how would the religious organizations set up arbitrary rules on shelters and proselytize? Won’t somebody think of the poor multinational religious organizations?!